Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
The plan to implement a set of regulations on student protests in Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), which had seen violence on campus in November, has been withdrawn.
The rules drafted by the university administration proposed to make it mandatory for students to take permission from both the university and the police for any protest or activity, at least five working days in advance. It also suggested designating one specific area in the university for all protests and required the organisers to sign an undertaking of responsibility for any untoward incident that might happen.
A Standard Operating Procedure has been devised as university’s response to the violence that took place on campus in November. Section 144 was imposed on campus; police were deployed and a virtual stop to any further student gatherings and protests was put henceforth.
A meeting with students in the presence of police was held on November 18 to prevent such incidents in future, but no concrete decisions were taken and thus this second meeting was announced.
On December 20, the university announced another meeting. They also shared the draft SOP and said any suggestions should be brought on the January 8 meeting where they hoped to finalise it. However, most student groups said the rules in the draft SOP were outright repression of their democratic right for peaceful dissent.
“If we find something in the food in the mess or if there is a paper leak, how can we register our grievance five days later?” asked Rahul Sasane, a PhD student. “Prior permission for outsiders to conduct events, gatherings or protests on campus is understandable but not for the students of the university itself. We will register our protest together and refuse any such repressive moves.”
“This proposed ‘SOP’ has been put on hold in the Monday meeting. Rather than creating SOPs, emphasis was placed on solving problems through discussion,” said a release by the university.
