“Most of us have studied in DU; this is not the Faculty of Law we know”, Delhi HC orders security for Dean

The Delhi High Court today pulled up the Delhi Police for shoddy investigation into the violent protests that erupted in DU’s Law Faculty in December last year..Protests had broken out over students not being allowed to sit for exams for failing to meet the minimum attendance criteria, revaluation of exam papers, and other issues. Eventually, students had entered the Dean Prof Ved Kumari’s office and threatened her with dire consequences..The Court had taken suo moto cognizance of the issue after a video went viral showing students vandalizing the office of the Dean..When the matter came up for hearing today, the Division Bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Najmi Waziri observed,.“What is disappointing is that the Dean complained of unruly behavior by students in the presence of the police and no action is taken against the perpetrators. Were you waiting for the court to intervene?.Most of us (members of the bar and the bench) have studied in DU. This is not the Faculty of Law that we know. This is the only university whose degree was recognized the world over. The standard of education has always been very high. We are pained by such incidents..We can understand being boisterous, but this unruly behavior is completely unacceptable. University is a place for thinkers and also for radicals, but that should always be in the realm of thought.”.Inevitability of punishment is the only deterrent. Delays frustrate the whole process.”.Senior Standing Counsel for the Delhi Govt. Rahul Mehra conceded that the police should have acted swiftly and stated that the investigation has been handed over to the crime branch,.“We have learnt our lessons. Please give us one chance to correct our mistake.”.Earlier the court had observed that it appeared as if the police had thrown the Dean to the wolves..After noticing the discrepancies in the fact finding team’s report, the Bench directed the ACP (Crime Branch),.“You have to carry out the investigation independently by taking into the consideration the contemporaneous records without relying on other reports. This is not a place for mudslinging and we will not allow this to degenerate into that. We don’t have time for petty politics.”.Finally, the Court asked the crime branch to file a report within two weeks and also directed the police to ensure protection of Professor Ved Kumari by providing round the clock security.