DU calls off sociology seminar over permission row

Delhi University (DU) cancelled a scheduled seminar on “Land, Property and Democratic Rights” organised by the Department of Sociology at the Delhi School of Economics (DSE), citing lack of prior administrative approval. Professor Nandini Sundar, the convener, has termed the cancellation arbitrary and a blow to academic freedom.

The seminar was part of DSE’s long-running ‘Colloquium’ series and was to feature Namita Wahi, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research. Wahi was expected to speak on a recent Supreme Court judgment concerning the right to property and its relationship with democracy and development.

University Registrar Vikas Gupta said the event was withdrawn because the department had not obtained prior permission as per the revised guidelines for organising academic programmes. “There is no issue with the topic or the speaker. The seminar was cancelled because the department hadn’t informed the authorities and didn’t have the permission,” said Gupta.

Professor Sundar, however, expressed disappointment, saying the series had been held for decades without the need for special permission for each session. “Such last minute cancellations undermine the integrity of academic spaces. Now, these are regular seminars conducted in almost every department and there permissions are not explicitly sought for every session,” she said.

The Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), criticised the university’s decision, calling it selective and reflective of misplaced administrative priorities. In a statement, the DTF said the university was “encouraging events like the National Godhan Summit while obstructing critical academic discussions”.

The Registrar maintained that other departments, including Sanskrit and Political Science, had also faced cancellations in recent months for similar reasons, denying any selective action.

The episode has reignited concerns among teachers and students over increasing administrative control on academic forums and the shrinking space for discussion on politically-sensitive subjects within public universities.

Delhi