Thirty students of Delhi University’s Hansraj College have been suspended in the past week for alleged violence and misconduct during an annual festival, and allegedly defaming the institute on social media, The Indian Express reported on Monday.

The college administration issued five notices between April 20 and April 25 to announce the suspensions. Among those suspended are four office-bearers of the students’ union.

Principal Rama Sharma told The Indian Express that the action was necessary to maintain discipline and restore order on campus, stating that it was wrong to “put false allegations on the college and defame it on social media”.

“Maximum students come to Hansraj College to study,” she said. “Their academic performance should not be disturbed…This is a very prestigious college.”

In the first notice on April 20, former students’ union chief Parth Srivastava was accused of “acts of indiscipline”, including defaming the institute and using “derogatory language” about teaching and non-teaching staff.

The notice stated that he had been given “multiple opportunities” to appear before a disciplinary committee with his parents but failed to do so. When he appeared alone on March 23, he “neither expressed remorse nor acknowledged his conduct”, it added.

Srivastava has claimed that he is being targeted, PTI reported.

He said that he had participated in protests in February and filed a Right to Information application regarding alleged irregularities, after which he was suspended. He has approached the Delhi High Court, PTI quoted him as saying.

In February, students had protested against the wedding of the principal’s son being held on campus, alleging that it restricted access to the college ground. Tensions over permissions for the student festival escalated soon after, The Indian Express reported.

On April 20, the college issued another notice suspending 14 students for a “serious incident of violence, misconduct and breach of discipline” during the annual festival held on April 8 and April 9.

Videos widely shared on social media purportedly show clashes between students during the event, The Indian Express reported.

On Wednesday, four students were suspended for alleged physical violence on campus. On Thursday, seven students were suspended for allegedly defaming the college on social media and engaging in activities that have “adversely affected the academic environment of the institution”.

Another notice issued on Saturday suspended the president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary of the students’ union with immediate effect, pending disciplinary proceedings, citing “serious incidents of violence, misconduct and breach of discipline” during the festival.