Students at Delhi University (DU) continued protests on Wednesday, 27 May against the university's decision to hold examinations on Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid), a gazetted holiday falling on 28 May, with demonstrators alleging administrative bias against Muslim students and claiming they were physically assaulted during the agitation.

What the Delhi High Court Ordered

On Tuesday, Delhi University informed the Delhi High Court that students belonging to the minority community, or those wishing to participate in Eid-ul-Zuha festivities, may notify the Dean of the Faculty of Law by Wednesday. The exam originally scheduled for 28 May will, for such students, be held after 4 July.

Despite the court development, the DU administration had not issued any official statement on the matter as of Wednesday, according to Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) Vice President Rahul Jhansla. 'We had put up a request for this yesterday. There was a protest by the students. We followed the legal method and went to the court,' Jhansla said. He argued that the administration's silence 'clearly reflects bias.'

Students Allege Assault and Discrimination

Minnat, a BA History (Hons.) student, called the scheduling 'very unfair' for students who observe the festival. 'We cannot imagine an exam being held on Holi, Diwali or any other festival. It is a direct attempt to marginalise the minority community. Rescheduling exams in DU is not a big thing, but now the authorities are not even ready to hear us,' she said.

She alleged that students who attempted to protest were 'attacked and assaulted,' and that university authorities did not respond to emails or messages.

Huda, a BA Political Science student at Jesus and Mary College, pointed out that 28 May is a gazetted holiday for university officials, yet examinations were being conducted for students on the same date. She alleged that 'students were dragged out of the Controller of Examinations office and were not allowed to meet the proctor,' calling it 'blatant discrimination against a community.'

Political Intervention: Owaisi Writes to Education Minister

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday urged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to intervene and postpone the examinations. In a post on X, Owaisi wrote: '@dpradhanbjp kindly ensure that the exams are postponed, @UnivofDelhi is showing their biased attitude towards Muslim Minorities will they also say the same thing when festival of other communities are celebrated.'

Notably, Jhansla also highlighted that the exam was scheduled despite Bakrid being a gazetted public holiday — a procedural inconsistency that has amplified student grievances beyond religious sentiment.

What Happens Next

Students who register their intent with the Dean of the Faculty of Law by Wednesday are eligible to sit the rescheduled exam after 4 July, per the court-communicated arrangement. However, with no official DU circular in circulation, students and faculty remain in uncertainty over implementation. The administration's response — or continued silence — is likely to determine whether protests escalate further in the coming days.