Did IIT Madras ask students to remove Jantar Mantar protest videos? Here's what happened
Students at IIT Madras alleged the administration asked them to remove a solidarity video and refused permission for a peaceful campus gathering. The row comes amid wider protests over examination irregularities and questions around accountability in education.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras administration has allegedly asked students to take down an Instagram video expressing solidarity with the ongoing student protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and denied permission for a peaceful gathering on campus, according to a report by HT.
The allegations were raised by ChintaBAR, a recognised independent student body at IIT Madras, which claimed that institute officials directed it to remove a social media post supporting students protesting against alleged examination irregularities, including those related to NEET-UG and UGC-NET, as well as the hunger strike underway at Jantar Mantar.
According to the report, ChintaBAR had sought permission on July 20 to organise a peaceful gathering in support of students affected by paper leaks, examination cancellations and re-tests.
In a document as per the media reports and also requested by India Today digital team, the student body said repeated examination irregularities had caused "severe academic, emotional and financial stress" to students and assured that the proposed gathering would remain peaceful without disrupting academic activities.
A student associated with ChintaBAR alleged that representatives were called for a meeting with Dean of Students Professor Sathyanarayana N Gummadi in the presence of the institute's elected students' general secretary after the request was submitted.
The student claimed that the dean asked them to remove an Instagram video posted on July 17 in support of the protesters in Delhi and denied permission for the gathering, allegedly stating that IIT Madras did not want to "disturb and disrupt" its relations with the Central government over the ongoing student protests.
The student body said it subsequently removed the video after informing fellow students through WhatsApp groups about the reason behind the decision.
The deleted video reportedly featured IIT Madras students holding placards highlighting concerns over paper leaks and examination irregularities.
Another student alleged that institute officials told them protests were not permitted as they could "tarnish the image of IIT Madras," according to the report.
The report further stated that a separate request by a group of BTech and MTech students to hold a peaceful protest on campus on July 20 was also denied.
The message also noted that institute representatives requested students acknowledge IIT Madras' efforts to improve examination systems following the controversy surrounding the NEET paper leak and CBSE examination processes.
IIT Madras experts had recently assisted the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in developing its On Screen Marking (OSM) portal and prepared the Centre's data analytics report on NEET-UG 2024, which concluded there was no evidence of mass malpractice.
The developments come days after IIT Roorkee issued an advisory asking students and employees not to participate in political activities or make political statements without prior permission.
The institute later clarified that the advisory was routine and not linked to the ongoing student protests.
Despite the administration declining permission, more than 150 students gathered at Himalaya Lawns on the IIT Madras campus on Wednesday to express solidarity with students protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras administration has allegedly asked students to take down an Instagram video expressing solidarity with the ongoing student protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and denied permission for a peaceful gathering on campus, according to a report by HT.
The allegations were raised by ChintaBAR, a recognised independent student body at IIT Madras, which claimed that institute officials directed it to remove a social media post supporting students protesting against alleged examination irregularities, including those related to NEET-UG and UGC-NET, as well as the hunger strike underway at Jantar Mantar.
According to the report, ChintaBAR had sought permission on July 20 to organise a peaceful gathering in support of students affected by paper leaks, examination cancellations and re-tests.
In a document as per the media reports and also requested by India Today digital team, the student body said repeated examination irregularities had caused "severe academic, emotional and financial stress" to students and assured that the proposed gathering would remain peaceful without disrupting academic activities.
A student associated with ChintaBAR alleged that representatives were called for a meeting with Dean of Students Professor Sathyanarayana N Gummadi in the presence of the institute's elected students' general secretary after the request was submitted.
The student claimed that the dean asked them to remove an Instagram video posted on July 17 in support of the protesters in Delhi and denied permission for the gathering, allegedly stating that IIT Madras did not want to "disturb and disrupt" its relations with the Central government over the ongoing student protests.
The student body said it subsequently removed the video after informing fellow students through WhatsApp groups about the reason behind the decision.
The deleted video reportedly featured IIT Madras students holding placards highlighting concerns over paper leaks and examination irregularities.
Another student alleged that institute officials told them protests were not permitted as they could "tarnish the image of IIT Madras," according to the report.
The report further stated that a separate request by a group of BTech and MTech students to hold a peaceful protest on campus on July 20 was also denied.
The message also noted that institute representatives requested students acknowledge IIT Madras' efforts to improve examination systems following the controversy surrounding the NEET paper leak and CBSE examination processes.
IIT Madras experts had recently assisted the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in developing its On Screen Marking (OSM) portal and prepared the Centre's data analytics report on NEET-UG 2024, which concluded there was no evidence of mass malpractice.
The developments come days after IIT Roorkee issued an advisory asking students and employees not to participate in political activities or make political statements without prior permission.
The institute later clarified that the advisory was routine and not linked to the ongoing student protests.
Despite the administration declining permission, more than 150 students gathered at Himalaya Lawns on the IIT Madras campus on Wednesday to express solidarity with students protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras administration has allegedly asked students to take down an Instagram video expressing solidarity with the ongoing student protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and denied permission for a peaceful gathering on campus, according to a report by HT.
The allegations were raised by ChintaBAR, a recognised independent student body at IIT Madras, which claimed that institute officials directed it to remove a social media post supporting students protesting against alleged examination irregularities, including those related to NEET-UG and UGC-NET, as well as the hunger strike underway at Jantar Mantar.
According to the report, ChintaBAR had sought permission on July 20 to organise a peaceful gathering in support of students affected by paper leaks, examination cancellations and re-tests.
In a document as per the media reports and also requested by India Today digital team, the student body said repeated examination irregularities had caused "severe academic, emotional and financial stress" to students and assured that the proposed gathering would remain peaceful without disrupting academic activities.
A student associated with ChintaBAR alleged that representatives were called for a meeting with Dean of Students Professor Sathyanarayana N Gummadi in the presence of the institute's elected students' general secretary after the request was submitted.
The student claimed that the dean asked them to remove an Instagram video posted on July 17 in support of the protesters in Delhi and denied permission for the gathering, allegedly stating that IIT Madras did not want to "disturb and disrupt" its relations with the Central government over the ongoing student protests.
The student body said it subsequently removed the video after informing fellow students through WhatsApp groups about the reason behind the decision.
The deleted video reportedly featured IIT Madras students holding placards highlighting concerns over paper leaks and examination irregularities.
Another student alleged that institute officials told them protests were not permitted as they could "tarnish the image of IIT Madras," according to the report.
The report further stated that a separate request by a group of BTech and MTech students to hold a peaceful protest on campus on July 20 was also denied.
The message also noted that institute representatives requested students acknowledge IIT Madras' efforts to improve examination systems following the controversy surrounding the NEET paper leak and CBSE examination processes.
IIT Madras experts had recently assisted the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in developing its On Screen Marking (OSM) portal and prepared the Centre's data analytics report on NEET-UG 2024, which concluded there was no evidence of mass malpractice.
The developments come days after IIT Roorkee issued an advisory asking students and employees not to participate in political activities or make political statements without prior permission.
The institute later clarified that the advisory was routine and not linked to the ongoing student protests.
Despite the administration declining permission, more than 150 students gathered at Himalaya Lawns on the IIT Madras campus on Wednesday to express solidarity with students protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
