IIT Bombay warns students against participating in anti-national activities

The IIT Bombay administration has warned students residing in its hostels from participating in any "anti-national" or "anti-social" activities. The administration has however not explained what activities it believes would be termed as "anti-national" and "anti-social".

The warning was part of a 15-point instruction sent to students in an internal mail. India Today TV has accessed a copy of it.

Point 10 of the internal mail that was sent to students on January 28 reads:

"Residents shall not participate in any anti-national, anti-social and or any other undesirable activities."

The warning comes in the backdrop of some IIT Bombay students and faculty organising a candle march in solidarity with students of Jamia Millia Islamia University and the Jawaharlal Nehru University where widespread violence was witnessed over the past month.

The internal mail says it is aimed at reiterating and highlighting hostel rules that need to be strictly implemented.

As per the mail (which seeks to impose a "code of conduct"), students can't distribute any posters or leaflets/pamphlets in the hostel without seeking permission from the hostel council or the dean of student affairs (DoSA).

The mail "strictly prohibits" any speeches/play/music or any other activities that "disturbs the peace of hostel environment". These will "not be allowed even if faculty is part of the gathering", the mail states. "Only matters that are approved from DoSA office will be permitted."

Earlier, IIT Bombay director in an open-house speech had told students that they should refrain from taking part in such protests inside the campus. The director had said students should express their political views outside the campus and never use the institute's name while voicing such views.

IIT Bombay is funded by the government by public funds and the institute is apolitical, the director had said.

On the eve of Republic Day, over 1,000 residents of IIT Bombay rallied in support of the institute's director's call for non-politicisation of the campus.

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