Fundamentally flawed

IIT-Madras has taken one of its most atrocious decisions in derecognising a student group, ostensibly on the grounds that they flouted procedures in using the institute premises for a political forum. Whatever the merits of the case against the group, to decide on disciplinary action based on an anonymous complaint goes against the very grain of natural justice.

The fact that no notice was served on the group for a disciplinary hearing further militates against the principles on which any such decision must be taken. It is irrelevant here what their politics were. Students are bound to be inclined to discuss politics, even if it is of the kind that criticises the establishment, or the Prime Minister or his ruling party.

The autonomy conferred on elite institutions like the IITs has to do with academic matters, not to meddle in how politically inclined the students are. The institutions may be responsible for the rules and regulations governing student activities on campus, but no one expects it to come up with such pedantic decisions.

The row the decision has kicked up as it snowballs into a topic all political parties are taking up as a free speech stick to beat the government with is hardly relevant to the reason why the institution arrived at such a conclusion on an innocent enough student activity. It is clear that IIT-Madras has acted in great haste and hence served up an opportunity for politicians to prattle on about freedom of speech. The decision to derecognise the Ambedkar Periyar Student Circle was fundamentally flawed and needs to be reviewed.