After the hullaballoo regarding the new policy for online admissions at Pondicherry University, the varsity has come into the spotlight once again now for a circular that states the administration will not entertain any discussion with unrecognised student unions that have an affiliation with political wings of various parties. This could possibly refer to the SFI, DYFI (affiliated to the CPI(M)), NSUI (affiliated to the INC), ABVP (affiliated to the RSS), AISF (affiliated to the CPI) and so on.
The circular was issued by the varsity's Registrar Dr B Chithra on June 27. It clearly states that the students' council is the only recognised body of the university to take up any issue or problems faced by the students with the administration.
It also mentions that "Of late, it is noted that several representations are received from various student unions which are affiliated/associated with political wings of various parties. Obviously, political influence and any political activity within the campus would undermine the peace of the campus and are bound to detrimental to the peaceful pursuit of research and learning in the university. As such, the university will not be entertaining or have any discussion with such unrecognised unions. The representations from them will not be processed by the university. The university is bound to have dialogues only with the recognised/ elected students' council on any issue."
The circular went on to specify that it has come under the view of the administration that "some unruly elements in the name of Students Union are defacing and damaging the walls and property of the University," which they said, will be taken serious action against. "Such destructive activities are in violation of the instructions contained in the Hon'ble Supreme Court Judgement dated 22.09.2006 and are punishable in law," the circular stated.
The students from the varsity say that this circular was kind of a warning from the administration and is not connected to any other issue at the institute. "It's the general policy of the university to not entertain students' unions affiliated to any political party, however, there are numerous such unions on campus and students wouldn't accept this decision. There has been no discussion on this yet or any kind of protests on campus," a student from the university, who is also a member of the SFI union said, on the condition of anonymity.
