Mumbai University bans protests without prior permission, warns of legal action

NEW DELHI: Mumbai University has prohibited public gatherings, protests, hunger strikes on campus without prior approval from the administration. It also warned of legal action if similar activities are held in the premises of the university without prior permission. The decision was not received well by MU students, who see it as an attempt to stifle dissent.

"Without the prior permission of the Mumbai University Administration, any organization or person organising any form of meetings, agitations, marches, hunger strikes, public assemblies, and any similar programme in the premises of the university will be subject to appropriate legal action on behalf of the university administration," the Mumbai University notification issued by the Vigilance and Disaster Management Cell on September 20 read.

Mumbai University students have reportedly burned copies of the MU circular in front of the institute’s gate and expressed contempt. Students also alleged that the rule has been imposed to silence the students and is against the fundamental rights.

Similar decisions taken by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) last year and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) earlier this year sparked outrage among the student community.

TISS suspended the student unions of the Hyderabad and Tuljapur campuses in June and tweaked the honour code restricting the “democratic right of students to participate in protests and political discussions”. However, a month after the ban on Progressive Students Forum (PSF), the administration on request of students reviewed its decision and revoked its order to ban PSF.

Calling it an “undemocratic” and “arbitrary” decision, students on several occasions reiterated that the UGC guidelines encouraged students to form organisations and participate in debates.

The university conducted the MU senate elections 2024 recently for 10 seats; which were pending for two years. A total of 13,406 graduates registered as voters and nearly 55% voting took place at 38 polling centres and 64 booths in the elections. The counting will be held on September 27.