NCSC notice to HRD Secy, IIT-M after institute defends action

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes today issued notices to Union HRD Secretary and IIT-Madras Director asking them to appear before it after the institute defended its action against a student group comprising mostly dalits, which has sparked a political row.
The IIT-M, in reply to an earlier notice by the Commission, asserted that there has been no curtailment of "freedom of speech" or imposition of ban on any student organisation.
It claimed the registration of student organisation Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle (APSC) has been "withheld temporarily" as it had issued pamphlets and put up posters publicly with the name of IIT Madras without the requisite approval.

The Commission had taken suo motu cognisance of the derecognition of the student body last week by IIT-M for allegedly violating code of conduct following a complaint that it was critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"We have issued notices to the Union HRD Secretary and IIT-M Director calling them for a discussion on the case on June 8. The notices were issued today," NCSC sources told PTI here.
IIT-M, in its response to NCSC, claimed that no student organisation, particularly of SC students, has been banned, but registration granted to APSC for utilising the institute's infrastructure has been withheld temporarily, as it has allegedly breached prescribed guidelines.

"IIT Madras has not banned any student organisation, in particular, any SC student Association.... The registration granted to this group for utilising the institute infrastructure has been withheld temporarily," IIT-M's Director-in-charge has said in his reply to the NCSC.

The APSC, which is registered with the Dean of Students, is expected to follow prescribed guidelines such as not using IIT-M's name to publicise their activities or garner support support without official permission, the reply stated.
"It has been noted that the APSC has not observed the above guidelines, in that they had conducted a meeting in the institute without the requisite approval and they have issued pamphlets and put up posters publicly with the name of IIT Madras without required approval," the institute said in its reply.

IIT-M also underscored that no organisation has been banned nor has there been curtailment of "freedom of speech".
IIT-M is in the eye of a storm over alleged derecognition of APSC following a complaint that it was critical of Modi. The action had led to protests by political parties and student organisations including NDA ally RPI which have termed it as an "act of injustice" and "attack" on freedom of expression.
Members of APSC today staged a protest inside the campus in Chennai demanding that the Dean apologise and revoke his action against it.