Regressive, Against Freedom of Expression: DU Teachers on University's Attempt to Formulate Social Media Policy

The teachers' organisations at Delhi University have reacted sharply to the constitution of a committee to suggest social media usage for employees, triggering concerns over suppression of freedom of expression. 

The university, in its letter dated December 8, said, "The Competent Authority of the University has constituted a Committee consisting of following members pertaining to the use of social media platforms in respect of the employees of the University for framing of such policy of the University." 

The committee will function under the chairmanship of Professor Sanjeev Singh, Director, Delhi University Computer Centre. Interestingly, the central university became the second university after Kashmir University to develop such a body for social media usage. The guidelines issued by Kashmir University explicitly ban posts which are political.

Talking to NewsClick, Abha Dev Habib, Former Executive Council Member and Secretary, Democratic Teachers Front, said that the development of forming a committee to suggest social media usage for employees is concerning for people exercising their freedom of thought and expression in personal and professional lives.

"We saw a similar development in 2013 when the University Grants Commission sent a code of ethics to the universities, and the administration used it to cull any dissent and protest on the campuses. When teachers and students came together to protest the four-year undergraduate programme model, we were told that the protests were against the code of ethics under the Dinesh Singh administration. Eventually, it became a big issue in the parliamentary elections in 2014, and the model was later withdrawn."

Habib added that the move also suggests that the administration does not want teachers to be opinion makers, especially when the Lok Sabha elections are around the corner in 2024. 

"After the plagiarism issue became viral and the university officials were mocked, it was very clear that they did not want any criticism. It is unbecoming of a university where freedom of expression is suppressed. If teachers are not free, then who is free?"

The strategic plan of Delhi University placed in a recent Academic Council meeting was found to be highly plagiarised, with paragraphs lifted from Ohio State University, University of Sheffield and Quinnipiac University.

Mithuraj Dhusiya, Member, Academic Council, said that Public universities are meant to foster free speech and multiple perspectives. If DU tries to censor the ideas and speeches of its employees on social media platforms, it will be very unfortunate and regressive.

Sachin N, Convenor, Common Teachers Front, also remains apprehensive over the issue.

"It is an act of suppression, and it can used against the students, employees and teachers who have been acting whistleblowers on any wrongdoing. Has the university forgotten that freedom of expression and thought is required to teach any discipline? It is completely unacceptable."

Sanjay Bohidar, who had been teaching Economics at Shri Ram College of Commerce, said that the new committee seems to be a part of the extension of the strategic plan, which emphasised pushing only positive stories.

"It is Imbibing the intolerance of the bosses. The DU administration responded to the exposure of its plagiarism-ridden policy proposal and its attempt to undermine the public character of the University through an action plan of ever-increasing dependence on private funding. A public institution and an institution of higher learning are being administered with the intent to silence the free and fearless expression of opinions and ideas, which is anathema to the very idea of a university. This is unsurprising since the action plan tabled in the Academic Council desired to concoct only positive stories to create a brand image for greater private funding. It is a matter of grave concern for all those who value education, accountability and democracy."