University of Delhi’s Dalit student has filled a complaint against Arun Kumar Attree, the principal of his own college, Shaheed Bhagat Singh College. The student accused that his principal had assaulted him and also used caste based slurs against him. The incident sparked the outrage among both both student and teacher group and on Monday, November 18, 2024 student and teacher group took out rallies against the principal and demanded his resignation from his post.
The student reported that the incident took place on college’s campus during a routine interaction. The principal allegedly assaulted him physically and also used foul language targeting his caste background. The student also mentioned that it was not the first time that he got targeted on the basis of his caste, earlier as well he had faced discriminatory behavior within the college, but this this they have crossed their line.
The students mentioned in his complaint that he had been falsely accused of sending some obscene messages on the official Whatsapp group of his department. He was pressured to take the credit of that message. After this he was mentally harassed by the principal.
Arun Kumar responded to the accusation, he said that the student was manipulated by a teacher, who undergoing an inquiry related to false certifications. The student himself faced an inquiry after other students complained that he had used to hack people’s phone and send obscene messages.
Students’ Federation of India (SFI) held a protest against the principal and student group said in a statement that the principal gave the punishment to the student in which he had to stand in punishment for 3 hours while harassing him continuously.
Social Democratic Teachers Front (SDTF) blamed the principal by saying that he slapped the Dalit student of Hindi Honors and this act of his is not acceptable. They added that student is still under trauma hence SDTF demands immediate action against the principal.
Seeing this issue, Delhi University needs to bring stronger anti-discrimination policies, ensuring a more inclusive environment for all students.
