IIT Roorkee Bans Students from Political Activities Without Prior Permission
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has directed its students and staff to refrain from participating in political discussions or activities without prior approval from the institute. The directive was issued through an email from the Registrar on July 20, citing observations of students expressing support for political movements on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
The email reminded the campus community that the institute's conduct rules prohibit students and employees from joining political discussions or engaging in any political activity without permission. It also bars them from making public statements or publishing opinions in any media that could potentially embarrass the relationship between the institute and the Central Government, or any other organisations and members of the public.
The circular states: "It has been noticed on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, etc that some of the campus inmates (have) shown their affinity with political movements like the one currently, in public utterance and in public criticism." It further emphasizes that the primary purpose of the institute is education and research in engineering, technology, sciences, and arts.
The move has raised questions about academic freedom and the rights of students to engage in political expression on campus. Critics argue that such restrictions infringe upon constitutional freedoms guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, which protects the right to freedom of speech and expression. However, the institute maintains that the rules are in place to maintain discipline and avoid controversies.
IIT Roorkee is one of India's premier technical institutions, and its actions could set a precedent for other educational institutes. The circular does not specify the exact political movement referred to, but it comes amid heightened political activities in the country. This incident highlights the ongoing tension between institutional discipline and individual rights within academic settings.
