Mumbai: Activists and student groups staged a protest outside the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai on Tuesday, demanding the revocation of the suspension of Dalit PhD research scholar Ramdas P.S. The demonstration, which began at 5 pm, was met with police intervention shortly after it commenced.
“After about 15 minutes, police personnel from Trombay Police Station arrived and announced on a loudspeaker that we did not have permission for the protest. We had already submitted a letter and informed the police station about the protest, yet they started detaining students and protestors. A complaint has also been lodged by the police against five to six people, including me,” said Shailendra Kamble, one of the protest organisers.
Activists and students protest outside TISS, Mumbai, demanding reinstatement of a suspended Dalit scholar | File Photo
The protest was organised in the wake of the Bombay High Court upholding the institute’s decision to suspend Ramdas KS, allegedly over his criticism of the central government and his participation in demonstrations against the New Education Policy. Various student organisations and progressive groups have condemned the action as an attack on academic freedom and democracy in higher education.
After the High Court dismissed his appeal against the suspension, the PhD scholar said he will move the Supreme Court. Reacting to the judgement, Ramadas told the Free Press Journal, “It is shocking that the Hon. Bombay High Court dismissed the case after more than 10 months of legal procedure. Once I evaluate the full judgment, I will take this matter to the Supreme Court of India.”
Activists and students protest outside TISS, Mumbai, demanding reinstatement of a suspended Dalit scholar | File Photo
“I deeply understand that this case is not just about me, but about the fundamental rights of all students and campus democracy in India's higher education system. I believe this case may set a wrong precedent for universities across India to target students who have independent opinions. This is a brutal violation of Freedom of Expression guaranteed by the Constitution of India,” he added.
Earlier, organisers had called upon students, activists, writers, and citizens to participate in large numbers to oppose what they termed as a discriminatory and unconstitutional decision. They also demanded that Ramdas’s fellowship should not be withheld and that TISS should uphold academic and democratic freedoms.
The intervention by the police and the lodging of complaints against protestors have further intensified concerns among activists over the “suppression of dissent in academic spaces”.
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