MUMBAI: Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, has suspended a dalit student, Ramadas KS, for taking part in a protest outside Parliament under the PSF-TISS banner besides posting pamphlets which the institute considered a “mark of dishonour against the Ram Temple event”.
Ramadas is former general secretary of PSF and a member of the Students’ Federation of India.He had bagged a national fellowship for the scheduled castes for excelling in the UGC-NET exam. The fellowship sum along with HRA (Rs 48,000/month) is likely to be discontinued following the suspension. Ramadas was doing a PhD in growth and evolution of plantation workers.
An institute official said the student repeatedly indulged in “unlawful” activities. “Students are expected to focus on studies, but a section is involved in political activities, which is bringing a bad name to the brand value of the institute and also affecting its placements. We are a public-funded institution,” he said, adding that disciplinary action has been taken against a few other students as well for violent behaviour and spreading hatred on campus. Students, however, confirmed only one suspension order and a few showcause notices.
Ramadas got a showcause notice on March 7 and, based on his response and investigation by a committee, the suspension letter was issued on Thursday. It said the student can appeal within 30 days. Sources said Ramadas will seek legal opinion.
Many student bodies described the action as “harsh” on social media. A PSF statement said the TISS administration was trying to curb dissent against govt. It linked its action to the change in the management of the institute and the appointment of new leadership.
The showcause notice said though PSF is not recognised by TISS, it was referred to during
the protest in Delhi, which “wrongfully creates an impression that the views are endorsed by the institute”. It said the student was involved in unauthorised events such as screening a banned BBC documentary on Jan 28, 2023, conducting the Bhagat Singh Memorial Lecture by inviting controversial guest speakers, and sit-ins outside the director’s bungalow at night amid loud sloganeering. It said Ramadas was served with notices earlier; one such evoked a “vague, disrespectful and unsatisfactory justification”, but the institute did not take action considering his career prospects.
The notice said propagating personal views as those of TISS was a violation of the institute’s Honour Code. The notice said Ramadas’ activities “are not in the interest of the nation”‘ and as a public institution, “TISS cannot permit or tolerate its students indulging in activities which is anti-national and bringing bad name to the nation”; it said such activities fall under “serious criminal offence”.
In his response, Ramadas admitted he participated in the ‘Parliament March’ organised by the United Students of India in his “personal capacity”. However, the committee called his participation “politically motivated” as the slogan on the pamphlet read ‘Save Education, Reject NEP, Save India, Reject BJP’. The panel’s view was that he was furthering his political ambitions by using institute resources.
Ramadas is former general secretary of PSF and a member of the Students’ Federation of India.He had bagged a national fellowship for the scheduled castes for excelling in the UGC-NET exam. The fellowship sum along with HRA (Rs 48,000/month) is likely to be discontinued following the suspension. Ramadas was doing a PhD in growth and evolution of plantation workers.
An institute official said the student repeatedly indulged in “unlawful” activities. “Students are expected to focus on studies, but a section is involved in political activities, which is bringing a bad name to the brand value of the institute and also affecting its placements. We are a public-funded institution,” he said, adding that disciplinary action has been taken against a few other students as well for violent behaviour and spreading hatred on campus. Students, however, confirmed only one suspension order and a few showcause notices.
Ramadas got a showcause notice on March 7 and, based on his response and investigation by a committee, the suspension letter was issued on Thursday. It said the student can appeal within 30 days. Sources said Ramadas will seek legal opinion.
Many student bodies described the action as “harsh” on social media. A PSF statement said the TISS administration was trying to curb dissent against govt. It linked its action to the change in the management of the institute and the appointment of new leadership.
The showcause notice said though PSF is not recognised by TISS, it was referred to during
the protest in Delhi, which “wrongfully creates an impression that the views are endorsed by the institute”. It said the student was involved in unauthorised events such as screening a banned BBC documentary on Jan 28, 2023, conducting the Bhagat Singh Memorial Lecture by inviting controversial guest speakers, and sit-ins outside the director’s bungalow at night amid loud sloganeering. It said Ramadas was served with notices earlier; one such evoked a “vague, disrespectful and unsatisfactory justification”, but the institute did not take action considering his career prospects.
The notice said propagating personal views as those of TISS was a violation of the institute’s Honour Code. The notice said Ramadas’ activities “are not in the interest of the nation”‘ and as a public institution, “TISS cannot permit or tolerate its students indulging in activities which is anti-national and bringing bad name to the nation”; it said such activities fall under “serious criminal offence”.
In his response, Ramadas admitted he participated in the ‘Parliament March’ organised by the United Students of India in his “personal capacity”. However, the committee called his participation “politically motivated” as the slogan on the pamphlet read ‘Save Education, Reject NEP, Save India, Reject BJP’. The panel’s view was that he was furthering his political ambitions by using institute resources.