IIT-Madras reinstates recognition for APSC

Professor of IIT Madras will be a faculty advisor of the Ambdekar Periyar Study Circle

The week-long dispute over the de-recognition of the Ambdekar Periyar Study Circle (APSC) at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras came to an end on Sunday after both sides settled with the recognition being reinstated.

A joint statement stated the APSC representatives conveyed their views to the director; in particular, that the guidelines for independent student bodies was publicised on the website on April 18, 2015, while their meeting took place on April 14. After discussions with the director, he requested them to meet the dean of students. The dean of students reinstated the recognition of APSC as an independent student body, and after consultation with the APSC representatives, recommended Milind Brahme as the faculty advisor.

Brahme has consented to advise APSC as required in the guidelines for independent student bodies.

The board of students met and discussed the issues raised by APSC regarding modifications and suggestions for ensuring uniform application of the guidelines for independent student bodies. Some of these will be implemented by the Office of Dean (Students), while the Student Affairs Council, board of students, and senate will take up the modifications in due course for consideration according to the established procedure.

The organisation was derecognised by the institute last month, for allegedly violating the guidelines prescribed by the BoS which consists of all the elected student representatives. This has become a political issue and agitation has spread across the country.

As per the guidelines in force, the student bodies are not allowed to use the institute’s name (IIT Madras) or any of its official entities in any capacity, to publicize their activities or garner support, without official approval. "This group has violated these guidelines while conducting their meeting.  Normally, violation of these guidelines leads to temporary derecognition pending their presenting their stand to the Board of Students," it has said in a press statement earlier.

Student groups desiring to use the Institute’s resources are required to be recognized and they are to follow guidelines prescribed by the Board of Students which consists of all the elected student representatives.

After discussions on June 2, the APSC team put forward demands inlcuding "re-recognising APSC, unconditional apology from the Dean (Students) for misuse of official power, overturn the undemocratic code of conduct which is against Article 19(A) of the Constitution of India, officially recognise all independent student bodies and allow them to express their social, economic and political views and provide democratic spaces and equal privileges like hall, IITM official mail account, permanent study-cum meeting room, space in IITM official domain for all independent student bodies."

It may be noted that the IIT Madras' derecognition of the student organisation came after the Union Ministry of Human Resource and Development sent a letter seeking the institute director's comment on the distribution of controversial posters and pamphlets in its campus.

The Ministry has issued a letter on May 15 addressing the director of IIT-M seeking the institution's comments on the distribution of controversial posters and pamphlets in the campus, creating hatred atmosphere among the students by one of the students' group namely Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle, IIT- M (an initiative by IIT-M students).

The students' organisation claimed that the pamphlet had quotes criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his policies and the action against it was triggered by the Union government because of this. Following this, various political and regional parties including Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Communist Party of India (CPI), Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Radical Students' Youth Front (RSYF) and Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam has come forward offering support to the APSC. These parties also conducted protest near the IIT Madras gate, and many were detained by the police for this.

The Union Ministry of HRD has earlier issued a statement that the action has been taken by IIT, Madras as per the guidelines of the Institute and the Ministry of Human Resource Development had nothing to do with this except for forwarding the complaint received to Director, IIT, Madras for comments.