IIT Roorkee has issued a clarification regarding an advisory on political expression of students. According to the institute, this is a routine internal advisory issued at the beginning of every academic session and is not a new policy or instruction.
Roorkee (Uttarakhand) [भारत]July 21 (ANI): IIT Roorkee on Tuesday clarified that an advisory circulated on social media regarding political expression of students is a routine internal advisory issued at the beginning of every academic session and is not a new instruction or policy.
The institute told ANI that this communication is an “internal advisory that is circulated among students, faculty and staff at the beginning of every academic session” and is not a new policy. IIT Roorkee, in a clarification issued by its media cell in-charge, Sonika Srivastava, said, “The communication being referred to is an internal advisory circulated among students, faculty and staff at the commencement of each academic session. Similar advisories are issued regularly every year as per the existing notified conduct rules of the institute and this is not a new instruction or policy.” The spokesperson added, “The communication should not be misinterpreted or taken out of context.”
What was written in the viral email?
A screenshot of an email reportedly circulating online alleges that the institution prevents “campus residents” from showing “affinity” in “public statements and public criticism, including political movements such as PRESENT.” The mail said, “It has been observed on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook etc. that some campus residents, in public statements and public criticism, have shown their affinity with a political movement like the present. All students, staff, stakeholders are politely reminded that IITs admit students or employ staff for the advancement of education, research and learning and dissemination of knowledge in engineering, technology, science and arts. It is enshrined in the notified conduct rules that no student or the employee shall not be allowed to engage in political discussions or take part in any political activity without the prior permission of the Institute or to make any statement or opinion in any broadcast/telecast or in any print or electronic media which is likely to embarrass the relations between the Institute and the Central Government or any other organization or members of the public.”
CJP’s protest march towards Parliament turned violent on Monday, with Delhi Police claiming that more than 118 police personnel were injured in the clashes. About 60 protesters were also reported injured.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court proposed transferring climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta Hospital, noting that medical experts were unanimous that she needed constant hospital monitoring, while also considering the concerns expressed by her in a letter about her stay in the government hospital. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet News editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)