A PhD scholar of Jamia Millia Islamia has got a show-cause notice from the university for holding a march from Jamia to Khalilullah Masjid on October 19 at 5:30 pm. The march had grabbed headlines as many students were detained and videos of girl student being dragged had gone viral. On Monday, the students hold protest again demanding resignation of Security Advisor over highhandedness by university security staff. The protest was called off in the evening.
The notice, issued by the Office of the Chief Proctor, stated the scholar had been “apprised about the sensitivity of the issue and the possible repercussions of such a gathering especially inside the university campus and concerns related to students’ safety and security and the law and order situation of the locality”.
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The scholar has been accused of “printing large size posters on the public property inside the campus and in Jamia Nagar with the intention of making the gathering more sensitive to attract a large crowd”. Besides the scholar has also been accused of “giving a provoking political speech at the Central Canteen on a sentimental issue of a particular community and tried to ignite the sentiments of the youth on religious lines”.
“Taking not that the above said repeated unlawful acts on your part constitute a breach of discipline as stipulated in Ordinance 14 (Academic) of Jamia for unbecoming a student of this University. The competent authority has taken a serious note of this and the university is empowered to invoke provisions under statute 31 of the JMI Act; however, it is necessary to take your response before any decision is taken on the matter,” said the notice.
The scholar has been given a final opportunity to explain in writing as to why strict disciplinary action should not be taken against him. The student was asked to reply latest by Tuesday till 4:00 pm, failing which ex parte action will be taken against him.
In response to the notice, PhD scholar Saurabh Tripathi, who is students’ AISA leader, challenged the university to substantiate the allegations with evidence.
“I entirely and completely deny this allegation and appeal to the Proctorial Board to present any audio or video proof of my speech on 19.09.2025 wherein my words have ignited religious sentiments,” he wrote.
The student rejected the claim that he facilitated outsiders’ entry or blocked traffic outside gate no. 7.
“It was in fact the Chief Security Advisor who grabbed hold of me while I was still inside Gate No. 7 and threw me outside the campus premises onto the Delhi Police,” he said.
“I deny the allegation that I pasted posters of any kind inside university property and appeal to the Proctorial Board or the team of the Chief Security Advisor to present any proof of the contrary. I also deny the allegation that I was “caught” by the Proctorial team distributing pamphlets of any kind at the Central Canteen and appeal to the Proctorial Board or the team of the Chief Security Advisor to present any proof of the contrary. As it is, even if I were distributing pamphlets it is very much within my rights to share and distribute written text to students as long as it isn’t intended towards causing harm to any individual, group or institute,” he wrote.
“I entirely and completely deny this allegation my words have ignited religious sentiments,” he wrote.
The All India Students’ Association (AISA) alleged that around 20 students, including women, were “dragged from the campus” and “handed over to police” during their September 19 protest.
DCP (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari denied using any excessive force.
“AISA activists came out of Gate No. 7 and tried to march … Despite repeated requests, they were hell-bent on marching. After due warnings and precautions, they were detained. No one was dragged at all,” he said.
Police and paramilitary forces were deployed on campus ahead of last week’s student protest, which was held to mark the 17th year of the Batla House encounter, which saw the killing of two alleged Indian Mujahideen militants, and a policeman being shot dead.
