FTII notice to striking students; warns them of rustication

Students have been ordered to terminate the strike with immediate effect, failing which the institution will take strict administrative action

Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Director D J Narian today served a notice to the striking students asking them to terminate the protest immediately or face "strong" administrative action which may include "rustication".

In the first warning to the students who are on strike since last 34 days demanding cancellation of actor Gajendra Chauhan's appointment as FTII chairman, the FTII administration said, "All concerned students will themselves be responsible for any administrative action in this regard.

"You are therefore ordered to terminate the strike with immediate effect and resume academic activities without any further delay, failing which the institution will be free to take strict administrative action," the notice said.

The notice addressed to the students' leader Harishankar Nachimuthu said the students should go back to their academic activities and defiance of the directive would result in a strong administrative action which may include rustication as well.

Asked to react to the director's warning, a spokesman of the FTII Students' Association (FSA) said, "we are in the process of deliberations and will decide future course of action".

Today's action by the FTII director came after the failed July 3 talks between the FSA delegation and Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on the contentious issue of Chauhan's appointment as chairman of the premiere institute.

The agitating students have alleged that the actor, known for his role of Yudhishthira in TV series Mahabharat, lacks "vision and stature" to head the FTII.