IIT Roorkee asks for valid reason, approval to stay outside beyond 11 pm; students oppose

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) withdrew an official order restricting students from going outside the campus after 11 pm following a students’ protest held on Monday. Later, it clarified that it has not imposed a blanket ban on students and the “issued notice merely outlines specific restrictions aimed at ensuring students safety and maintaining discipline”.

“IIT Roorkee has not imposed a blanket ban on students leaving the campus. The issued notice merely outlines specific restrictions aimed at ensuring student safety and maintaining discipline,” it said in an official statement.

On February 28, IIT Roorkee’s Dean of Students' Welfare informed students that the local administration had told about some students going outside campus to consume alcohol and smoke cigarettes etc. “In view of the above, all the students of the Institute are directed that no student should stay out of the Institute Campus after 11 pm without any valid reason and prior approval,” it said.

“You are also informed that all the conditions related to the abuse of substances will remain applicable to the students going outside the Institute Campus and strict disciplinary action will be taken against the students found guilty in the future,” the order added.

Three days after the circular was issued, the students of IIT Roorkee staged a protest at 11 pm demanding to withdraw the order. Students also shared a poster that read “11 pm tonight - You know the drill”. As per sources, IIT Roorkee has withdrawn the order after the students' protest.

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IIT Roorkee student demands

“To bring down the rule was major. Apart from that students demanded open house too and 24*7 opening of the student activity centre which was closed last year after 2 AM," a student of IIT Roorkee said.

Today, the institute issued a clarification stating that “the advisory, based on inputs from local administration, highlights concerns about certain activities outside campus premises and reiterates the institute’s existing policies on responsible conduct. It does not prohibit students from stepping out but emphasizes the need for valid reasons and prior approval for staying outside beyond 11:00 PM.”

IIT Roorkee's official order regarding "not leaving the institute after 11 pm without permission".

In a similar incident, students of Ashoka University and the administration were on a warpath after the institute introduced vehicle check, bag scanning, and prohibition of alcohol and cigarettes on campus.

Update: This story has been updated to include IIT Roorkee's official statement.