‘Misleads students, defames institute’: TISS bans Progressive Students Forum

The ban, issued by the TISS outlined in an order dated August 19 and signed by Registrar Professor Anil Sutar, designates the PSF as an “unauthorised and illegal forum” on campus. It accuses the PSF of “misleading students”, “obstructing the institute’s functions”, “defaming the institute”, and “creating division among the students and faculty”.

Under the order, PSF members are prohibited from organising or participating in any campus events. The order warns that any such attempts “will be met with immediate intervention and consequences” and urges students to report any encounters with PSF members to campus security. “All reports will be handled with utmost confidentiality,” it states.

The order emphasises the institute’s commitment to maintaining a safe and collaborative academic environment, stating, “Any student or faculty member found supporting, associating with, or propagating the group’s divisive ideologies will face disciplinary action as per institute policies.”

Members of the PSF expressed surprise at the timing of the ban issued minutes before their planned signature campaign. The campaign aimed to submit a complaint to the TISS Chancellor regarding various issues, including uncertainty over contractual faculty members and a ban on student-led events since January. “We will challenge the order,” said a PSF member.

Over the past 20 months, PSF had been at the centre of several controversies. In January 2023, it participated in screening of the controversial BBC documentary — “India: The Modi Question” — inside the campus. In March 2023, the PSF protested outside the institute director’s bungalow alleging that the administration had denied permission to hold the Bhagat Singh Memorial Lecture (BSML) in which human rights activist and author Harsh Mander and president of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) Aishe Ghosh were scheduled to deliver lecture.

In November 2023, the PSF had condemned the changes brought in the TISS admission process wherein it was declared that instead of its own entrance test, admissions will be based on CUET.

The PSF and the TISS administration has been at loggerheads on several other issues, including inadequate hostel capacity and difficulty faced by students in payment of fees. It was also part of the six students’ organisations that jointly issued a statement in April 2024 against the administration’s circular on Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for students and staff around general elections.

The PSF has been active on campus for over a decade and has participated in official Students Union (SU) elections. In the past, PSF members have held various SU positions, including that of vice-president of the outgoing SU. Recently, the PSF criticised the discontinuation of contracts for over 100 faculty members, and the TISS Teachers Association supported the organisation in a statement issued in July.

The institute administration declined to comment further on the issue but acknowledged that such situations can be “distressing”.

There are seven students organisations active on TISS campus —Progressive Students Forum (PSF), Adiwasi Students Forum (ASF), Ambedkar Students Association (ASA), North East Students Forum (NESF), Fraternity Movement, Muslim Students Forum (MSF) and Democratic Secular Students forum (DSSF).

“Of these only DSSF is a right-leaning organisation and it has never been successful in SU elections,” said a student.