Delhi University recently issued a notice and made it mandatory for students to give intimation before organising any protest. This notice has received criticism from various student groups and organisations.
Through the notice, the University proctor has made it mandatory to provide prior information about any/all gatherings, protests and demonstrations outside the Arts Faculty.The organisers will have to provide all the necessary information at least 24 hours before the protest. The information must include the name of the organisers, their institution, contact information, nature of the gathering, duration of gathering, logistics to be used, speakers expected and approximate number of expected participants. However, if in case the procedures are not followed, there hasn’t been any penalty.
The notice have received wide criticism from various student bodies. The AISA group claimed that resistance is their right and they would not seek any permission to resist. The notice has also been been rebuked keeping in mind the move of Delhi Police to use face-recognition software, and is taken as a sign of our country turning into a surveillance state. Protesting is a right offered by the Constitution to all the citizens including students and no one is supposed to do any paperwork prior to a protest.
The KYS student group also stood against the notice and called it as a move to suppress the voice of students which is against the principles of Democracy. They stated that the notice is like a reminder of the restrictions imposed on the voice of Indian citizens, all over the country.
