Varsity law students protest over faculty shortage, lock department
Students of the Law Department at Chaudhary Devi Lal University (CDLU) staged a protest on Wednesday, demanding the appointment of faculty members to address the ongoing shortage. As part of their demonstration, they locked the department’s main gate, which was later opened after about an hour.
Upon learning of the protest, Registrar Dr Rajesh Kumar Bansal arrived at the scene to engage with the students. After hearing their grievances, he assured them that their demands would be addressed within 10 days.
In their memorandum, the students emphasised the need for political science lecturers as part of their curriculum. Previously, a lecturer had been hired on a contract basis, but due to unspecified reasons, his workload was put on hold, leading to the complete suspension of political science classes. The students explained that this disruption caused significant academic challenges, particularly during their December 2024 exams, where they struggled to prepare without proper instruction. They urged the administration to immediately appoint two political science professors to prevent further academic setbacks.
In addition to faculty shortages, the students highlighted several other pressing issues. They demanded that all vacant teaching positions in the Law Department be filled as soon as possible and insisted that the university implement the reservation policy in part-time faculty recruitment. Another major concern was the inadequate infrastructure in the department’s computer lab. The students called for its proper functioning by ensuring the appointment of dedicated faculty members.
They also urged the university to establish an SC/ST book bank in the library and make newly acquired books available to students. Furthermore, they pointed out the poor state of the Legal Aid Cell, demanding immediate improvements. Hygiene and cleanliness were also major concerns, as garbage had accumulated near the department walls, creating an unhygienic environment. The students requested the administration to take immediate steps to clean the premises.
Additionally, they asked for the replacement of old benches and blackboards in classrooms, citing their deteriorating condition.
Registrar Dr Rajesh Kumar Bansal reassured the students that the administration was committed to addressing their grievances. “We are taking all necessary steps to resolve these issues. Efforts are already underway to address the faculty shortage and further instructions have been given to resolve the concerns raised by students,” he said. He also acknowledged that while the students had briefly locked the department, they reopened it following discussions with university officials.
