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IIT Roorkee warns students against social media support to 'political movements like current one'
The institute said the notice is a routine annual advisory enforcing conduct rules after staff and students showed support for a political movement online.
On Monday, the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee issued an advisory warning students and staff against showing "affinity with political movement" on social media, citing conduct rules against statements that could embarrass institute-government relations.
The directive coincided with Monday's "Sansad Chalo March" in New Delhi, where the Cockroach Janata Party led protesters demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged competitive exam irregularities.
Critics, including Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra, termed the advisory a "gag order" restricting free speech, while the institute "politely reminded" stakeholders that conduct rules prohibit unauthorized political discussions.
Following the online backlash, the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee clarified through its Media Cell that the email was a routine internal advisory, insisting it "should not be misinterpreted or viewed out of context."
The administration utilized its official X handle to distance itself from individual political expressions, emphasizing that personal views shared by students do not reflect the institute's official position or endorsement.