'Not the first time': Should Delhi University normalise campus weddings?

A private wedding for the son of Hansraj College Principal Rama Sharma has triggered protests, with students and faculty questioning the use of a public academic space. The DU Registrar, Vikas Gupta, defended the move, saying such weddings have happened before and will continue in the future.

What began as a private family wedding has turned into a flashpoint for a much larger debate at Delhi University.

A wedding held inside Hansraj College on February 10, 2026, involving the principal’s son, has triggered protests, criticism, and fresh questions about power, privilege, and the use of public academic spaces.

Tensions escalated a day earlier when students reported restricted access to classrooms, lawns, and recreational areas to facilitate wedding preparations, disrupting routine campus life. Student groups accused the administration of treating a publicly funded institution as a private venue, raising concerns over the lack of transparency and consent.

The backlash has since spread beyond students, with faculty members and college heads warning that the incident sets a troubling precedent by blurring the line between administrative authority and personal privilege.

As protests grow, the controversy has pushed DU back into the national spotlight, reviving an unresolved question: where does personal privilege end, and students’ rights over shared academic spaces begin?

The controversy intensified after a floral e-invitation titled 'Wedding and Blessing Ceremony' began circulating on social media. Listing the venue as 'Gate No 5, Hansraj College, Delhi-110007' and identifying the groom as the son of Principal Rama Sharma, the invite sparked fresh questions about the use of a public academic campus for a private celebration.