Administrative Impasse at Delhi University

Delhi University’s Hindi Department found itself at the center of an administrative standoff on October 28, as scheduled PhD admission interviews were brought to a grinding halt following vociferous student protests. Major student organizations, including the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU), mobilized outside the department building, demanding immediate transparency and a complete overhaul of what they termed an erratic admission schedule.

The immediate trigger for the unrest was a late-night notification issued by the department on October 27. Shortlisted candidates were instructed to report for their viva-voce interviews beginning at 9:15 am the following morning—leaving applicants with a travel and preparation window of less than 24 hours.

Logistical Nightmares for Outstation Aspirants

The compressed timeline heavily disadvantaged candidates residing outside the National Capital Region. According to the original roster, the initial interview session on October 28 was slated to accommodate 45 applicants starting at 9:30 am, followed by a second batch of 27 candidates in the afternoon. Subsequent sessions were mapped out through October 31.

Aspirants traveling from distant states like Uttar Pradesh reported that their urgent email inquiries to the university administration went unanswered, leaving them scrambling to secure transit to New Delhi on short notice. Student representatives slammed the timeline as impractical, pointing out the impossibility of traversing different parts of the country within an 18-to-20-hour window.

Questions Raised Over Seat Capacities and Fairness

Beyond the short notice, student leaders heavily scrutinized the department's admissions strategy. DUSU President Yash Dabas and ABVP Delhi University Secretary Akshay Pratap Singh questioned why only a restricted cohort of applicants was invited for interviews despite the department boasting more than 150 vacant PhD seats.

The student bodies formally demanded that National Eligibility Test (NET)-qualified scholars and candidates applying under the 'Only for PhD' track be afforded broader, more equitable opportunities to participate in the selection process. Protesters have vowed to sustain their agitation until university authorities formally revise the schedule and address allegations of opaque shortlisting practices.

University officials have yet to issue a formal revised timeline for the stalled interview rounds as pressure mounts from student organizations for a transparent resolution.