On February 9th, the administration of OP Jindal Global University took suomoto cognisance of a public discussion titled ‘Ram Mandir: A farcical project of Brahmanical Hindutva fascism,’ organized by the Revolutionary Students League, a Marxist reading circle. Subsequently, two students involved in organising and participating in the event were issued show cause notices. The following day, these students were suspended for an entire semester, without a hearing, on grounds of conducting “religiously derogatory discussions without authorisation” and for the “abject misuse of the non-political academic space.” The suspension of students without a hearing is in blatant violation of the principles of natural justice.
Following their suspension, the students were manhandled by the guards and forced to vacate the campus at 2am. Furthermore, other students present during the incident received show cause notices for defending their peers, and their rooms were searched during the night, in contravention to proper procedures. In the aftermath of these incidents, the administration disseminated an email prohibiting student-led groups and reading circles that do not have university approval, and urging students to “understand the distinction between being politically aware and engaging in politics.” The email specifically banned the RSL and another left student-run group, the Safdar Hashmi reading circle, alleging associations with political organisations. However, right-wing student groups such as Abhinav Bharat with clear ties to the RSS were conveniently not prohibited by the communication.
Subsequently, a protest was organised by the student body demanding the revocation of the suspensions, for the right to free speech, and the right to organise reading circles irrespective of ideology. However, the concerns raised by the students were dismissed as being too idealistic, and all the actions were justified under the pretext of ensuring safety of the students. The actions of the administration stifles the students’ right to expression, poses a threat to democratic discussions, and is contrary to the university’s claim of being a liberal “Institution of Eminence.” Student politics is a crucial part of university experience and is essential to strengthening democratic institutions beyond it. The actions of the administration are absolutely unacceptable and sets a dangerous precedent for politics in private universities.
