Fearing polarisation, Gujarat varsity denies nod for protest

THE CENTRAL University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, has denied permission to its students to hold a protest and “talks by activists” againstthesuspensionofanassociate professor, apprehending “it mayleadtopolarisationandcommunalisation of students and vitiatetheacademicatmosphereon the University premises which couldleadtountowardincidents”.

Thestudentsclaimedthatthey were not allowed to protest even outsidethecampusaspolicehave already detained three students citingimpositionofprohibitoryorders under Sector 144 of the CRPC. They have now threatened to move the Gujarat High Court.

In response to a request letter written on February 17 by a PHD studentrepresentingtheresearch scholars and seeking permission toholdaprotestagainsttherecent suspension of associate professor of Economics Jaya Prakash Pradhan, the University through its registrar H L Hiremath on February 22 stated, “.... Any such protest or demonstration by students on issues not concerning them are of sensitive nature may lead to polarisation and communalisation of students and vitiate the academic atmosphere on the University premises which could lead to untoward incidents that the University administration is mandated to prevent.”

The university’s executive council had suspended the professor in January following an inquiry into a complaint by Scheduledcastestudentwhohad accused him of discrimination, bias and harassment.

Later University vice-chancellor Prof Syed Abdul Bari told The Indian Express, “What is going elsewhere (in other central universities), we do not want to repeat here. Outside the campus, we do not have any jurisdiction but inside the students have no reason to hold protest as the issue they want to protest against does not concern students at all.”

The University has also claimed that despite several Pradhan has not come forward to settle the issue “amicably and has decidedtogoinforasitinprotest”.

Thestudents,however,threatened to move the Gujarat High Court. “In this case, we have no other option but to approach the Gujarat High Court for our fundamentalrights.wehadtriedtohold a protest outside the university gate a few days ago, but police detained three of my coursemates,” saidalokkumar,phdscholarfrom School of International Studies.

SYL ROW