Day after suspending PHD student, TISS cites ‘repetitive misconduct’

A DAY after the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai suspended PHD student Ramadasa Prini Srinivasan, it said Saturday that the action was a result of findings of an inquiry into his “repetitive misconduct” over a period of time.

“Throughout his tenure, Ramadas KS exhibited a shift in focus towards activities unrelated to his academic pursuits, engaging in events, protests, and other activities influenced by personal political agendas. Despite repeated verbal and written advisories from the TISS Administration to prioritise academic commitments, Ramadas KS failed to comply,” states the public notice, which also listed various activities by Ramadas inside as well as outside of the institute campus, which as per the notice, were not in accordance with the code for students and he was given repeated warnings.

The institute administration on Wednesday issued a suspension order addressed to Ramadas, a PHD candidate from School of Development Studies at TISS. The suspension order dated April 18 referred to a showcause notice issued to Ramadas in March seeking his explanation for repititive misconduct and anti-national activities and suspended him for two years including barring his entry in all campuses.

The Progressive Students Forum at TISS Friday alleged that the showcause notice was issued to their formal general secretary following Ramadas’s participation in Parliament March held in January 2024 where 16 student organisations raised their voice against the policies of the Union government, especially the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. On Saturday, student organisations issued statements in Saturday in his support.