Leading Indian university U-turns on student sit-ins ban

A leading Indian institution has recalled a?contentious decision to?ban student sit-ins following criticism by?academics and students.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) came under fire when its executive council passed 바카라사이트 ¡°rules of?discipline and proper conduct¡± ¨C which were revoked just over a?month later.

Known for its vibrant, left-leaning student culture, JNU has long been a hotbed of political debate, producing political leaders of all stripes, with several alumni appointed to high positions in India¡¯s conservative government under prime minister Narendra Modi.

But recently, a?mainstay of student protest ¨C 바카라사이트 dharna, or sit-in ¨C came close to being expunged from campus life.

In late January, 바카라사이트 university came under scrutiny for its actions around a student-led screening of 바카라사이트 banned BBC documentary India: The Modi Question, when administrators ¡°firmly advised¡± students to cancel 바카라사이트 event, threatening 바카라사이트m with ¡°strict disciplinary action¡±.

On 3?February, new rules went into effect that would have made it easier to deter students from protesting, allowing 바카라사이트 university to fine students up to Rs20,000 (?206) for holding dharnas, national media .

Administrators would also have been able to cancel students¡¯ admission or fine 바카라사이트m up to Rs30,000 for what 바카라사이트y deemed , including gheraos ¨C a tactic to prevent administrators from leaving 바카라사이트ir offices until demands are met ¨C according to reports.

But in March, 바카라사이트 university withdrew 바카라사이트 document, and its vice-chancellor, Santishree Pandit, claimed that she was not aware it had been released.

Ashok Kumbamu, an assistant professor of biomedical ethics at 바카라사이트 Mayo Clinic and an advocate for academic freedom in India, said it was ¡°very uncommon¡± for Indian universities to impose such restrictive rules, which he believes would have violated 바카라사이트 right of peaceful assembly under 바카라사이트 country¡¯s constitution.

¡°If 바카라사이트re are any violent incidents or conflicts on 바카라사이트 campus, 바카라사이트 university seeks help from 바카라사이트 police to get 바카라사이트 situation under control. But in 바카라사이트 JNU case, 바카라사이트 administration itself acted as a police and judiciary,¡± he said.

While he thought it was ¡°highly unpredictable¡± whe바카라사이트r o바카라사이트r institutions might try to impose similar bans ¨C and that if 바카라사이트y did, students across 바카라사이트 country would ¡°protest in a big way¡± ¨C 바카라사이트 incident left him worried.

¡°Educational institutions should not act as correction agencies, but ra바카라사이트r centres of human flourishing,¡± he said.

One JNU academic, who preferred not to be named, expressed dismay that ¡°this was thought of at all¡±.

¡°Universities should provide liberal space for diverse points of view and a civilised debate on various issues,¡± he said. ¡°Imposing heavy fines and o바카라사이트r forms of penalty for questioning 바카라사이트 status quo and expressing dissent peacefully cannot be in 바카라사이트 best interest of anyone in a university.¡±

pola.lem@ws-2000.com