3 Jamia students who participated in Safoora Zargar stir asked to appear in Proctor Office
Three Jamia Millia Islamia students, who had participated in a stir on the campus on August 6 over cancellation of admission of Safoora Zargar, have got a mellowed notice from the authorities to appear before the top officials, according to a reliable university source.
The source, a student, said the three got the notice and they have been asked to present themselves in front of the Proctorial staff.
Since the Sociology Department cancelled 29-year-old Safoora’s admission claiming “unsatisfactory” progress in her thesis work, some students groups have been at the forefront to protest against the university move. Safoora has been enrolled in the Sociology Department’s integrated MPhil and PhD programme from 2019. The activist, arrested in a 2020 CAA riots case in Delhi and who is out on bail, has claimed that the university is keeping her from turning in her thesis.
Jamia has justified cancelling her admission after “giving several extensions”.
A student, who got the notice, said we have been just asked to be present in front of the Proctor. In the last meeting held between the students’ representatives and Proctor Office three students didn’t turn up and hence they have been asked to be present soon. According to sources, the administration has been trying to convince students not to protest on campus and concentrate on studies. However, the university’s efforts have failed to yield any positive result till now.
Despite the university order to not hold protest on campus without the authorities nod, students have organised two peaceful protests on the campus in solidarity with Safoora.
In the notice, Jamia Registrar Nazim Hussain Jaffri said: “It has been observed that some students who are associated with different political parties use the campus for their political agenda. Every now and then, they hold protests, dharnas and boycott campaigns on the campus for their malafide and political interests. As such, they spoil the peaceful academic environment of the campus and disturb the routine activities of majority disciplined students throughout the academic session.”
“The rule was there even earlier but we stated the same once again to remind students and those involved. Every now and then, there are dharnas and protests held by some groups and students. In the past few days also, there have been protests regarding the cancellation of a research scholar’s admission and people come up with threats. So we wanted to re-issue the notice and remind students that such activities will not be permitted,” Jaffri said.
