Mumbai University’s protest ban sparks outrage

Mumbai University has now joined the ranks of institutions trying to muzzle campus protests The university has issued a circular banning gatherings protests marches hunger strikes and similar activities on its campuses The administration now requires prior permission for organising events warning that unsanctioned gatherings will be illegalThe administration now requires prior permission for organising events warning that unsanctioned gatherings will be illegal This decision made during the MU Management Council meeting on September 12 2024 has faced backlash from student organisations and activists who see it as an attempt to stifle free expressionThe circular issued on September 20 by the Vigilance amp Disaster Management Cell mandates that all departments and employees follow strict disaster management protocols It states that prior approval from the university is necessary for any meetings protests or demonstrations with legal action for noncomplianceABVP staged a protest last week at MU against the universityrsquos decision to postpone the senate elections Representational picAshish RajeLast year Jawaharlal Nehru University JNU banned dharnas and wall posters near academic buildings leading to widespread outrage Earlier this year the Tata Institute of Social Sciences TISS revised its Honour Code to prohibit political discussions and demonstrations but after student protests the controversial clause was removed reaffirming that campuses should support open debatePradeep Sawant former senate member and Yuva Sena representative condemned Mumbai Universityrsquos circular banning campus protests calling it ldquoan attack on the fundamental rights of students teachers and staffrdquo He accused the administration of trying to ldquosilence the voices of students parents teachers and nonteaching staffrdquo and vowed to fight the circular legally after the upcoming election results ldquoWe condemn the cowardly attitude of the Honourable ViceChancellorrdquo he addedSantosh Gangurde general secretary of the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena MNS said ldquoThe university is marching towards authoritarian governance with reckless decisions The circular should be revoked immediatelyrdquoSankalp Phaldesai of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad ABVP said protesting is ldquoa constitutional rightrdquo adding that ABVP will appeal to the ViceChancellor against the decisionGrowing OppositionThe circular has raised concerns among students faculty and activists who fear it may stifle free speech and suppress legitimate concerns on campus The university has not responded to the growing opposition A spokesperson stated ldquoThe circular is selfexplanatory and we do not wish to comment furtherrdquoA political science masterrsquos student said ldquoThe future of organised student movements at Mumbai University remains uncertain This seems like a move by the government to silence student voices before the new senate members take officerdquoShiv Sena UBT MP Arvind Sawant called it a violation of democratic principles ldquoEducational institutions should be centres for human flourishing not correctional agencies By stifling student voices today we risk fostering a generation that is passive and unwilling to stand up against injusticerdquoA former ViceChancellor of Mumbai University warned that restricting academic freedom ldquothreatens the core of higher educationrdquo and stifles student movements which have historically shaped political leaders like Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkari ldquoBy silencing student voices we risk fostering a passive generation unwilling to stand against injusticerdquoFormer provice chancellor Dr A D Sawant questioned the circularrsquos legality saying ldquoStudent unions play a critical role in fighting injustice Banning protests outright How will we nurture future leaders if we donrsquot let them voice their concernsrdquoSudhakar Tamboli a student leader and former senate member from MNS said ldquoMany students approached me about this circular Initially I thought it was linked to the senate elections but therersquos no clarity on whether itrsquos timebound Why impose this ban now Over the last two decades MUrsquos administration has made many mistakes They know these issues attract organisations that address student concerns which is why theyrsquore taking such measures These circulars hold no real weightmdashstudents will continue to raise their voices as they always haverdquoSept 12Day decision was taken