The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has imposed a two-year suspension on a PhD student, Ramadas Prini Sivanandan, citing "repetitive misconduct and anti-national activities," The Indian Express reported on Saturday.
This decision has sparked controversy, with the Progressive Students Forum (PSF) attributing the suspension to Ramadas' involvement in a protest march against the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) in Delhi earlier this year.
According to publication, the suspension order dated April 18 prohibits Ramadas from entering any TISS campus during the suspension period. This action follows a show-cause notice sent to him on March 7, which questioned his participation in the Delhi protest and other activities on the Mumbai campus.
The notice alleged that Ramadas misrepresented the institution by participating in the protest under the banner of PSF-TISS. TISS argued that since PSF is not an officially recognised student body, Ramadas' actions conveyed a misleading impression about it. TISS is also funded by the Ministry of Education.
The January protest, organised under the United Students of India banner, opposed the NEP 2020. The PSF criticised TISS's decision, viewing it as an attempt to stifle dissent against the ruling BJP government's policies.
According to the publication, Ramadas, a PhD scholar from the Dalit community, holds positions within the Student Federation of India (SFI) and has organised events that the institute deemed unauthorised.
Although Ramadas declined to comment, a close associate told the publication that he had responded to the institute's notices and expressed shock at the suspension.
The PSF condemned TISS's actions, asserting that they target marginalised students and their aspirations for higher education. Conversely, a senior institute official told the publication that Ramadas was more of a political activist than a student and stressed the 'bad name (brought) to the institute'.
Published 20 April 2024, 10:47 IST