A New Rule Shows How Little Delhi University Trusts Its Teachers
Avijit Pathak | 15 December 2025 | The Indian Express
Imagine the state of a university that does not trust its teachers and researchers, and discourages them from thinking, writing, attending conferences, and presenting their academic papers with freedom. It is unfortunate that Delhi University — one of our leading public institutions — is moving towards this path. Recently, it has come up with a new rule, or what I would characterise as an instrument of surveillance. You may be a brilliant professor/researcher, but it will not be easy for you to participate in a national/international conference. As per the new rule, you need to obtain prior approval from a special committee appointed by the university bureaucracy. In fact, you must submit the full text of the paper two months before the event, besides the conference brochure. The committee will not only evaluate the merit of the paper, but also the “credentials of the organising body.” And only if the “experts” of the committee feel satisfied can you go ahead…