The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to pass directions for removal of Dalit Professor Ritu Singh and her supporters from outside the Delhi University’s Arts Faculty where she has been protesting alleged casteism in the university [University of Delhi v Commissioner of Police & Anr]. Justice Subramonium Prasad disposed of the plea filed by Delhi University (DU) seeking directions to Delhi Police to remove Singh from the site.The Court said that the issue concerns law and order situation and the university can file a complaint with the police which shall act in accordance with lawProfessor Singh has been protesting for more than five months against alleged casteism in DU. She had joined the Daulatram College in 2019 as an ad-hoc psychology professor but was removed within a year and her contract was not renewed.The 28-year-old educator’s protest has gathered support from Bhim Army, farmers from Punjab and many others.
In its plea, the DU argued that Singh and her supporters illegally started encroaching upon a large space of land in front of gate no. 4 of the Faculty of Arts situated in the North Campus of DU and continue to hold protests/dharnas disrupting the smooth and effective functioning of the academic institution.
It was their case the protest is obstructing the free ingress and egress of the students and officials. The protestors continue to raise slogans and personal allegations against the officers of the University and are threatening the vice-chancellor, it was claimed.Advocate Monika Arora appeared for the DU and told the Bench that the Delhi Police has failed to remove the protestors despite the fact that Section 144 CrPC is in force in the area and the protestors have defaced the walls of North Campus by pasting posters and banners.Advocate Mehmood Pracha appeared for Professor Singh and contested the allegations. He said that protest is a peaceful one.During the hearing of the case, Justice Prasad expressed surprise at DU (an instrument of State) seeking directions against another instrument of State like Delhi Police.The single-judge warned that passing such directions will set a very wrong precedent.“I cannot take cognisance that an instrument of State is stating that State is failing. It is a very dangerous argument. Please understand the Constitutional ramifications of that argument. It is a very dangerous argument,” the Court remarked.He added that he cannot pass any directions to the police to remove the protestors but DU can move a complaint and the police will act as per the law.
TAGS: Delhi High Court Dalit Professor Ritu Singh University of Delhi Commissioner of Police protest
