"Political programmes organised by political parties or in their support are not permitted," reads a circular issued by the Central University of Gujarat on August 19, 2019. This had created a lot of hue and cry among the student community in the university, including the ABVP that dominates the Student Council. However, the university's Vice-Chancellor tells us that the students are not barred from political activities.

"The word banned isn't used anywhere in the circular. It (the circular) is being misread, misinterpreted and misrepresented,  this is only an advisory to follow procedure when programmes are being organised by students.  Nowhere does it mention that students are barred from political activities," Bari Syed, Vice-Chancellor, CUJ tells us over an email. He adds that the circular was cleared on May 8.

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"Any University will have to take prior permission of the administration to organise any programme on the campus or its premises.  These were only procedural guidelines, not a ban on any legal activity of the students. However, we are looking into the matter as to why, what was cleared three-and-a-half-months ago has surfaced now," he adds. The date on the circular, however, is August 19.

The members of the Students' Council condemned the circular. "We urge that the administration roll back the circular soon," says Raghu Solanki, a member of the Students' Council. He says that the members of all political parties of the university had met the registrar on Thursday, demanding the same. "He too told us that the circular was issued in May. At the same time, he said that he will look into the matter and take necessary actions favouring the students soon," he says.