Tensions at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) in Rohtak boiled over on Monday, with dual protests bringing the campus to a complete halt. The demonstrations targeted alleged administrative misconduct and a prolonged freeze on hiring, pushing the university into a state of crisis.
Student Outrage and Ultimatum to Administration
Outside the university gates, student unions led a loud and charged protest against Vice-Chancellor Rajbir Singh. The protestors accused both the state government and the university administration of turning a blind eye to serious complaints filed by a female professor. In a dramatic display of anger, demonstrators burned effigies of the university's leadership.
Pradeep Mota, the president of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh student union, emphasized that the grievances were not limited to students. He stated that teaching and non-teaching staff members also shared the concerns. "Serious allegations have been leveled against the V-C, yet no action is being taken," Mota said. The protestors have issued a 10-day ultimatum for government intervention, demanding the removal of the V-C and the formation of an impartial inquiry committee led by a sitting judge. They have threatened to launch an indefinite hunger strike if their demands for a judicial probe and transparency are not met.
Recruitment Deadlock Sparks Scholar Agitation
Simultaneously, a separate group of research scholars and job aspirants took their fight directly to the university's registrar and dean of academic affairs. This group is protesting an extensively delayed recruitment process for assistant professor positions. They claim the process has been stuck at the screening stage for months, leaving hundreds of eligible candidates in a state of professional uncertainty.
This delegation has also given the university officials a 10-day deadline to complete the screening process. If the deadline is missed, the candidates have vowed to begin an indefinite hunger strike and launch a large-scale agitation. They have warned that the university administration will be held solely responsible for any disruptions resulting from the planned protests.
University's Silent Stand
In response to the escalating situation, university officials accepted a memorandum from the job aspirants. However, the administration has not yet issued any formal statement addressing the specific allegations against V-C Rajbir Singh or provided a clear timeline for resolving the assistant professor appointments. The silence from the authorities has further fueled the anger on campus, setting the stage for a major confrontation if the 10-day ultimatums are ignored.
