Hansraj College Principal's son wedding inside campus: Students from Shah Rukh Khan's alma mater say 'it's not a wedding hall'

Hansraj College, one of the most prestigious institutions under Delhi University, has become the center of a major controversy following reports that its facilities were used for the wedding of Principal Rama Sharma’s son. On February 10, 2026, a massive wave of student protests erupted on campus, with several student organizations condemning the "misuse of public institutional resources" for a private family event. The protesters alleged that the college grounds and certain facilities were barricaded and made inaccessible to students for several days to accommodate the high-profile wedding festivities.

Why are Hansraj College Students Protesting?

The core of the Hansraj College student protest lies in the allegation that an educational space was treated as private property. According to student leaders from the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and other campus groups, the college’s main lawns and amphitheater were decorated and restricted for a week leading up to the ceremony on February 9. Protesters argue that while students are often denied permission to hold seminars or cultural events on campus citing "security reasons," the administration allowed a lavish wedding to take place without hesitation. "An institution built on public funds should not be used as a personal wedding banquet for the administration's family," a protesting student told TOI.

Principal Rama Sharma’s Response to the Allegations

In response to the growing backlash, Principal Rama Sharma has defended the decision, stating that all necessary administrative protocols were followed. The college administration claimed that the wedding was held in a designated area and that the requisite "facility usage fees" were paid to the college's development fund. However, this explanation has failed to pacify the student body, who pointed out that the presence of private security and the noise from the celebrations severely disrupted the academic environment and library access for those preparing for upcoming internal assessments.

Delhi University Officials Investigate Campus Misuse

As the protests intensified, the matter reached the Delhi University (DU) Proctor’s office and the Vice-Chancellor’s desk. Several faculty members have joined the students in their demand for an independent inquiry into the incident. Critics have pointed out that according to university statutes, college property is meant strictly for academic, administrative, and government-approved purposes. The incident has reignited a wider debate on the commercialization of DU campuses and the need for stricter guidelines to prevent the use of taxpayer-funded educational infrastructure for private functions.

Historical Precedents and Wider Campus Impact

This is not the first time Hansraj College or other DU colleges have faced criticism over facility usage, but the scale of this particular event has brought unprecedented national attention. Protesting students have warned that if the administration does not issue a formal apology and commit to a ban on such private events, they will escalate their demonstrations to the Ministry of Education. For now, the campus remains tense with a heavy police presence stationed outside the main gate to prevent any untoward incidents as the student groups continue their sit-in.

(With TOI inputs)