IIT Roorkee restricts student and staff political activity
India's Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) has issued an internal advisory requiring students and staff to obtain permission before engaging in political activities or making public statements. The advisory has drawn criticism.
The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) has issued an internal advisory instructing students and staff to avoid political discussions or activities without prior permission. The institute has observed social media activity where individuals expressed affinity with political movements, prompting the new directive.
According to the advisory, students and employees were admitted or appointed for "advancement of learning, and dissemination of knowledge in engineering, technology, sciences and arts," not for political participation. They were also warned against making statements that could "embarrass the relations between the institute and the Central Government or any other Organizations or members of the public." The internal communication, circulated on July 20, has faced criticism from various quarters. Some have described it as an attempt to curtail freedom of speech and assembly, rights protected by the constitution. Critics, including politicians and education sector figures, have condemned the restrictions and urged students to disregard the guidelines.
A day later, on July 21, IIT Roorkee issued a clarification stating the advisory was a routine circular circulated at the commencement of each academic session, in accordance with existing conduct rules. The institute emphasized that it does not constitute any new directive or policy, and urged against misinterpreting or taking the communication out of context.