IIT Roorkee advises students against political activities without permission
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The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has issued an advisory asking students and staff not to participate in political discussions or activities or make public statements without prior permission from the institute.
In an email issued by the Registrar on July 20, the institute said it had noticed that some campus residents had expressed support for political movements on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
The email stated that IIT Roorkee admits students and appoints staff for education, research and the advancement of learning. It reminded students and employees that, under the institute's notified conduct rules, they are not allowed to join political discussions, participate in political activities without prior permission, or make statements in print, electronic or broadcast media that could embarrass the relationship between the institute and the Central government, other organisations or members of the public.
Although the advisory came against the backdrop of the ongoing protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar led by the Cockroach Janta Party, it did not mention the movement by name.
On the same day, IIT Roorkee posted on X that it is committed to maintaining a distinction between personal expressions and official institutional communications. It said views shared by individuals in their personal capacity should not be interpreted as reflecting the institute's position, and that official communications are issued only through authorised channels.
Responding to reports about the advisory, IIT Roorkee media in-charge Sonika Srivastava said it was an internal communication routinely circulated at the beginning of each academic session in accordance with existing conduct rules and did not represent a new directive or policy. She said the communication should not be misinterpreted or viewed out of context.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra criticised the advisory, saying public funds support the institute and urging it to retract the email and apologise, adding that students should not be asked to give up their constitutional right to free speech and protest.