SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Learn more.

Date of Incident: June 21, 2022

Attack Types: Other

Institution(s):Various

Region & Country:Southern Asia | India

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On June 21, 2022, Lakshadweep education director Rakesh Dahiya banned all protest activity at schools and higher education institutions in response to student protests. Students above the age of 14 who violate the ban would be subject to expulsion and a fine.

Students from various institutions on the archipelago of Lakshadweep, including Minicoy Government Polytechnic College, had been protesting a shortage in faculty and calling for better facilities.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about a ban on protests at higher education institutions and the threat of disciplinary actions in an apparent attempt to restrict freedom of expression and freedom of assembly — rights that are expressly protected by international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which India is a party. State authorities have a responsibility to protect freedom of expression and assembly. Bans and disciplinary actions intended to prevent peaceful student protests on campus undermine institutional autonomy, academic freedom, and democratic society generally. ​​

Sources:
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2022/06/21/lakshadweep-administration-bans-protests-school-college-campuses.html
https://english.mathrubhumi.com/education/news/lakshadweep-administration-bans-protests-in-educational-institutions-1.7624293