‘Prioritise Safety And Law’: Delhi University Cautions Students Against Joining Unlawful Protest At Jantar Mantar; Flags Academic Future, Legal Action Risk

New Delhi: The Delhi University (DU) has issued an advisory urging the university students and faculty to stay away from the unlawful gathering and unauthorised protests at Jantar Mantar over the alleged NEET paper leak. The protests, which are also demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, have drawn large crowds in Delhi in recent days. The DU, while issuing caution to the students, cited concerns over personal safety, legal repercussions and spread of false information in the national capital. 

In a cautionary note, the university stated that such gatherings at Jantar Mantar are “strictly regulated as per the directives of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India” and could lead to legal consequences. It added that participation in unlawful assemblies not only carries legal implications but could also endanger students and disrupt their academic and career prospects.

“Dear students and faculty, your safety matters to us. Please note that any unlawful assemblies or demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, which are strictly regulated as per the directives of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, may invite legal action……Such activities can also pose serious risks to students’ personal safety and significantly impact their academic progress and professional opportunities. Accordingly, all students are urged to stay away from Jantar Mantar and to prioritise their safety and compliance with the law. Furthermore, you are advised to exercise caution as a significant amount of fake and misleading content is being created and circulated to fuel the situation,” the university said.

The advisory was issued as protests linked to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) continued to draw crowds and political attention. The university asserted that protests at Jantar Mantar are tightly controlled under orders from the Supreme Court, cautioning that taking part in assemblies not permitted by law could invite direct action from police and have long-term consequences for those involved.

In a message posted on X, the administration urged the university students and faculty to prioritise safety and abide by the law. It also flagged a rise in fabricated news, edited videos and inflammatory social media posts aimed at heightening emotions around recent events.

Stay Away From Jantar Mantar: DU Advisory

"Dear students and faculty, your safety matters to us. Please note that any unlawful assemblies or demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, which are strictly regulated as per the directives of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, may invite legal action. Such activities can also pose serious risks to students' personal safety and significantly impact their academic progress and professional opportunities. Accordingly, all students are urged to stay away from Jantar Mantar and to prioritise their safety and compliance with the law. Furthermore, you are advised to exercise caution as a significant amount of fake and misleading content is being created and circulated to fuel the situation", the University said.

The university warned that any police case or legal record could affect academic standing and future job prospects, and asked students to verify information before sharing it online.

Amid the advisory, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, along with INDI Alliance leaders, arrived at Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg on Thursday. The group travelled in buses under heavy security deployment to express solidarity with students affected by the NEET-UG paper leak and with those injured during CJP-led protests.

Police Warning To The Protesters

Amidst a tense escalation of the protest, the Delhi Police advised the protesters that no sit-in was permitted at the location. "No sit-in protest or gathering is allowed here. If this sit-in protest of yours continues here like this, it will be declared illegal, due to which legal action will be taken against you. So, you are requested to end this protest and sit-in demonstration right here and disperse peacefully," the police added.

Despite the warning, several Congress workers pushed past barricades and continued raising slogans, leading to brief scuffles with police personnel as they attempted to move towards Gandhi Smriti. Indian Youth Congress National President Uday Bhanu Chib alleged that Rahul Gandhi had been placed under "house arrest" to stop him from raising student issues. 

The CJP is protesting at Jantar Mantar at a time when Parliament remains deadlocked over the NEET-UG paper leak. The Opposition has demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a discussion under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha. Meanwhile, the Centre has stated that it is ready to discuss the matter without any preconditions.