New Delhi: Chaos erupted at the Delhi School of Journalism (DSJ) on Tuesday, April 2, after a group of students approached its director to raise their concerns about the institution’s "exorbitant fees" and lack of academic facilities.
A video of the confrontation went viral on social media, which reportedly shows DSJ's director, Professor Bharati Ghore, telling the students “Joote se peetungi, keep quiet” (I’ll hit you with my shoe, keep quiet).
However, the director denied all the allegations, claiming that the video is fake and misleading, according to a report by The Indian Express.
Have a look at the viral clip here:
What Led to the Confrontation?
The incident took place at around 2:00 PM on the DSJ campus, after a few students approached Ghore, objecting to the lack of academic and infrastructure facilities on campus, despite the high fees charged for it.
As per the 2024-25 fee structure on DSJ's official website, the annual fee for first-year students enrolled in the Five-Year Integrated Program in Journalism (FYIPJ) and Master of Journalism (MJ) is Rs 79,820. For the second to fifth years of the FYIPJ and the second year of the MJ program, the fee is Rs 69,620.
Director's Statement On the Viral Video
Denying all the allegations, Ghore accused the students of spreading half-baked stories and fake videos against her. "The students misbehaved with me first, in response to which I asked them not to do so. They are misleading people with a one-sided story. However, the students have apologised to the authorities and the matter has been closed," she told The Indian Express.
What Did the Students Claim?
As per the report, the students accused Ghore of using inappropriate language and criticised her conduct, adding that such behavior was unbecoming of someone in charge of an educational institution.
The students raised concerns about a lack of essential infrastructure, including computer labs, library facilities, WiFi in basements, and air conditioning. A second-year student told The Indian Express, "The DSJ administration is uncooperative and there is no transparency regarding the allocation of funds for societies and events. When we ask questions, we're told to focus on our studies because we're just students."
The students have also planned a protest against the director and the administration on Thursday, April 3, with the Delhi University Students’ Union president invited to join their demonstration.
More About DSJ
According to the DSJ website, the institution was established in 2017 under Delhi University and offers a Five-Year Integrated Journalism Program with a focus on both foreign and vernacular languages. Students also have the option to exit with a Bachelor of Journalism degree or continue to pursue a Master of Journalism.
