TISS bans Progressive Students Forum; calls it ‘illegal’, 'misleading'

NEW DELHI: The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai on Monday imposed an immediate ban on students organisation Progressive Students Forum (PSF) — affiliated to the Left-leaning Students Federation of India (SFI), citing it as “unauthorised and illegal forum” which was defaming the institute.

The institute further prohibited the group from organising any event on the campus. Students, and even faculty members, deemed to be supporting the group's 'divisive ideologies' will be imposed with disciplinary action.

An officer order signed by professor Anil Sutar, registrar, TISS, stated, “This notice addresses a critical issue concerning the presence of an unauthorised and illegal forum on our campuses, reportedly the ‘ PSF TISS ’. This group has been engaging in activities that obstruct the institute’s functions, defame the institute, demean members of our community, and create divisions among students and faculty. It has been observed that this group is misleading, distracting and misguiding students from their academic pursuit and harmonious life in the campus.”

Immediate action against any student found associated

The order warns that any such attempts “will be met with immediate intervention and consequences” and urges students to report any encounters with PSF members to campus security.

“We encourage anyone who encounters or is approached by members of this group to report the incident to campus security or the institute’s student affairs office. All reports will be handled with the utmost confidentiality,” the order stated.

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Students associated with PSF called the order undemocratic

Students however, said the ban was imposed because PSF had come out in support of teachers and non-teaching staff whose services were terminated recently.

PSF members informed that they were surprised by the timing of the ban, which was issued just minutes before their scheduled signature campaign. The campaign intended to file a complaint with the TISS Chancellor concerning various issues, including the uncertainty surrounding contractual faculty members and the ban on student-led events since January. "We will challenge the order," stated a PSF member on 'X'.

Students associated with PSF called the order undemocratic and said it came minutes before it was to start the second phase of a signature campaign against the administration. Students said they would fight the ban on all possible grounds.