DU Executive Council, DUTA write to Delhi University VC over Model Code of Conduct Violations

Delhi University is organizing a 2.5-km “Run for Viksit Bharat” event on May 8, in which Nearly 5,000 students will participate.

In a letter addressed to Prof. Yogesh Singh, Vice Chancellor of the University of Delhi, members of the university's Executive Council and DUTA Executive have brought attention to alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), despite directives issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The letter highlights discrepancies in adhering to the MCC, particularly in the display of photographs and references of ministers, politicians, and political parties on the DU website. Despite the UGC's directive to remove such content, the website continues to feature images of the Prime Minister and Ministers, notably under sections like "Glimpses," "DU Centenary," and "Viksit Bharat Ambassador Nari Shakti Conclave." Similar violations are observed on the websites of some DU-affiliated colleges, prompting the urgent request for their removal in compliance with the MCC.

Delhi University is organizing a 2.5-km “Run for Viksit Bharat” event on May 8, in which Nearly 5,000 students will participate. The event is part of the Viksit Bharat programme, which was launched by the Prime Minister in December last year, and is aimed at giving a platform to the youth to contribute thoughts to the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ — the idea of a developed India by 2047, the 100th year of Independence.

Furthermore, the letter expresses concerns over the scheduled "Viksit Bharat Run" amidst the ongoing general elections, with polling in Delhi imminent. The term "Viksit Bharat" has acquired political connotations, extensively used in the BJP manifesto of 2024 to articulate its vision and goals. Members argue that organizing the run aligns with partisan coverage and publicity, contravening the ECI directive against such activities during the election period. Hence, they call for the immediate cancellation of the run to maintain the university's impartial image.

The letter was penned collectively by Dr. Seema Das, Rajpal Singh Pawar, Dr. CM Negi, Dr. Alok Ranjan Pandey, Dr. Sunil Kumar, Dr. Mamta Chaudhary, Dr. Ram Kishore Yadav, Anand Prakash, Prof. Deo Nandan, and Dr. Bimlendu Tirthunker.

The letter underscores the need for the University of Delhi to uphold the principles of neutrality and compliance with electoral directives, urging Prof. Yogesh Singh to take swift action to rectify the identified violations and ensure adherence to the MCC.

This development underscores the heightened scrutiny universities face during election periods and the importance of maintaining impartiality in their activities and communications.