Delhi University Exams on Bakrid Holiday Draw Student and Academic Ire

The University of Delhi (DU) has ignited controversy by scheduling examinations on May 28, the observed holiday for Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid), a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from students and members of the university’s academic bodies.

Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that an office memorandum from the university’s General Branch-II declared May 28 as a holiday for all its offices, faculties, departments, colleges, and institutions. This aligns with the Central Government’s revised holiday notification for the Muslim festival.

However, the same memorandum stipulated that examinations would continue as originally scheduled on this holiday, creating confusion and discontent. According to the DU examination schedule, a substantial 368 undergraduate and postgraduate examinations are slated to take place on May 28, affecting thousands of students across various programmes.

The decision has been met with objections from members of the Executive Council (EC) and Academic Council (AC). These bodies have formally questioned the rationale behind conducting examinations on a national holiday. Two separate letters were dispatched to the Vice-Chancellor on May 21 and May 25, urging a reconsideration and postponement of the examinations scheduled for May 28. As of now, the university administration has not provided a response to these communications.

Aman Kumar, a member of the Executive Council, strongly criticized the university’s order, describing it as contradictory. “The Central Government has declared May 28 as a holiday. In such a situation, conducting examinations on the same day is unfair to students as well as staff. The Vice-Chancellor should immediately intervene and postpone the examinations scheduled for May 28,” Kumar stated.

The university’s notification, approved by the competent authority and signed by the Registrar, comes in the wake of the Central Government’s adjustment of the Bakrid holiday to May 28. This move by the Central Government also saw the National Testing Agency (NTA) postpone all its CUET (UG) 2026 examinations scheduled for that day. In contrast, Delhi University has yet to issue any specific clarification regarding the conduct of its own examinations on the declared holiday.

Students expressed their dismay, highlighting the conflict between the official holiday declaration and the continuation of academic assessments. Many questioned the logistical and ethical implications of forcing students and invigilating staff to attend university on a day designated for religious observance and rest. Online forums and student groups buzzed with discussions on the matter, with many calling for immediate intervention from the university administration to resolve the discrepancy.

The timing of the examinations on a significant religious festival adds another layer of concern, with many students and faculty members expected to participate in family and community observances. The lack of a clear directive or timely response from the university administration has amplified the uncertainty and frustration among the affected parties. Academic observers noted that such scheduling conflicts can often be avoided with better coordination and foresight in academic planning, especially concerning national holidays that hold cultural or religious significance for a large segment of the population.

The controversy underscores the challenges faced by large educational institutions in balancing administrative requirements with the cultural and religious sensitivities of their diverse student and staff populations. The expectation is that the university administration will address the concerns raised by the academic council members and student representatives promptly, either by rescheduling the examinations or providing a clear rationale for their continuation on the holiday.

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