After Enquiry, SAU Expels Bangladeshi Scholar After Clash Over Serving Fish on Hindu Fasting Day: Report

The move comes after an altercation occurred on February 26 between members of the Students' Federation of India and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad following the serving of fish curry on the day of Maha Shivratri

The Wire Staff

after enquiry sau expels bangladeshi scholar after clash over serving fish on hindu fasting day report

South Asian University. Source: MEA website

New Delhi: Following an internal investigation by its proctorial committee, the South Asian University in New Delhi expelled a Bangladeshi doctoral scholar as per an official order dated July 15, following a clash over serving non-vegetarian food on Maha Shivratri day in the university mess. The University also imposed a fine of Rs.5,000 on the students' mess secretary for failing to maintain order, as per a report by Times of India.

The university expelled doctoral scholar Sudipto Das, finding him “guilty of serious misconduct”.

“Following a detailed proctorial enquiry, the university has found doctoral candidate Sudipto Das guilty of serious misconduct due to multiple instances of indiscipline. The university has ordered his immediate expulsion, permanently disqualified him from applying to any future programmes at SAU, and instructed him to vacate the hostel premises within 24 hours,” Hindustan Times quoted a senior official as saying.

The university order also noted that Das had been suspended in 2022 for ‘similar disruptions’.

The university also fined student mess secretary Yashada Sawant an amount of Rs. 5,000 for not maintaining order at the mess when the altercation occurred.

Das’s expulsion comes after an altercation occurred on February 26 between members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) in the university, and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) following the serving of fish curry in the university mess on the day of Maha Shivratri, a day when some Hindu fast. According to TOI, members of the ABVP had requested that only vegetarian food be served on the day. However, on seeing fish curry being served on the day at the university mess, they attempted to take it off the counter. Members of the SFI intervened. According to TOI, a woman member of the mess committee was allegedly manhandled as well.

Arguments also broke out between members of the SFI and the ABVP, both accusing each other of instigating violence.

While the SFI accused ABVP members of trying to impose their dietary preferences on others and calling this an attack on secular values, the ABVP claimed that serving non-vegetarian food on a Hindu fasting day was “insensitive” and disrupted religious harmony, Hindustan Times reported.

This article went live on July nineteenth, two thousand twenty five, at sixteen minutes past four in the afternoon.

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