The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has suspended Ramadas Prinisivanandan, a PhD student in Development Studies, for two years citing involvement in activities deemed detrimental to national interests.
Prinisivanandan has also been barred from entering TISS campuses in Mumbai, Tuljapur, Hyderabad, and Guwahati.
TISS cited various instances, including Prinisivanandan’s participation in protests in Delhi under the PSF-TISS banner and the screening of documentaries like ‘Ram Ke Naam’ ahead of January 26, as reasons for the suspension.
The institute also accused him of organising events, such as the Bhagat Singh Memorial Lecture, with controversial guest speakers.
The notice sent to Prinisivanandan emphasized that these activities were viewed as deliberate violations of the law under the guise of freedom of speech and expression.
“Your activities are not in the interest of the nation. Being a public institution, TISS cannot permit or tolerate its students indulging in such activities which are anti-national and bring a bad name to the nation. Hence all such activities fall under the category of serious criminal offence.
“The committee recommended your suspension from the institute i.e. Tata Institute of Social Sciences for the period of two years and your entry shall be debarred across all campuses of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, which is accepted by the competent authority,” the TISS notice dated April 18 reads.
Prinisivanandan, who hails from Kerala, said he will appeal against the suspension.
The Progressive Student Forum, a Left-leaning student body Prinisivanandan is associated with, said the march referred to by the TISS was related to “anti-student policies in the form of the National Education Policy”.
It also said BSML has had the distinction of inviting well-known academics, scholars and human rights activists, including two Ramon Magsaysay awardees.
With inputs from PTI
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