Teachers and Students Allegedly Mistreated During Examination Protest; Voices Raised for Systemic Reform

Teachers and students who recently protested against irregularities in competitive examinations have come forward with disturbing allegations about their treatment by police and exam authorities.

According to firsthand accounts, police adopted an uncompromising stance towards the peaceful protestors, determined to stop them from progressing further. Protest leaders state that their request was simple: permission for four representatives to meet with the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to convey their concerns regarding ongoing system problems.

However, when protestors attempted to make their case, the police reportedly reinforced their presence and chaos ensued. “Suddenly it felt like a stampede. A teacher standing next to me was forcefully slapped and pushed. I managed to move to the side and hold onto someone for support against the wall,” said one protestor. Soon after, a lathi charge allegedly began, and around 45 protestors were forcibly packed onto buses and detained for several hours in different locations.

Some teachers pleaded for restroom breaks due to medical emergencies but were denied. Eventually, some children distributed water to those in need. At Najafgarh station, the protestors reportedly waited in buses for nearly an hour before being taken inside for questioning. Many recounted the ordeal of being held without food, water, or toilet access for nearly six hours.

Despite the ordeal, some protestors stated they do not hold a grudge against Delhi Police and are more concerned with being given the opportunity to present their case to government authorities. “All we want is to meet with the DoPT so we can highlight issues in the examination process, not to be treated like criminals. FIRs [First Information Reports] have been filed even against teachers. We’re not terrorists; we just want our voices heard,” said a protest leader.

The protestors further allege gross negligence and a lack of basic infrastructure in current examination centers. “There’s not even paper, pen, or adequate arrangements at the centers, and inexperienced teenagers are being appointed as invigilators. Our demands are basic: a clean and transparent exam system, even if it means higher fees. But the government must ensure no technical glitches or administrative mismanagement,” another protestor explained.

There have been multiple incidents, they say, where students were reportedly assaulted or locked up for raising concerns about malfunctioning computers or lack of resources during exams. These complaints echo long-standing grievances over competitive exam administration, with similar protests having occurred in 2017 and again after the recent NEET paper leak.

The teachers, many of whom run coaching centers, emphasized that their involvement in protests reflects the mounting frustration among students. They cited lack of verification, inadequate biometrics, and even reports of unauthorized individuals—sometimes with mobile phones—entering examination halls unchecked.

“Our only demand,” one teacher stated, “is a fair examination system and direct access, even for just five minutes, to present these concerns to the DoPT or Education Minister. Those who work hard and are eligible for government jobs must be given a genuine chance—without having to fight for basic necessities like a working mouse, pen, or rough sheet at exam centers.”

The protestors urge the authorities to hold a meeting, listen to their grievances, and take tangible action to streamline and correct the system—so that deserving students are given the opportunity they have worked so hard for.