On September 29, 2024, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Shankar Das of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) temporarily withheld the diploma of Ablaz Mohammed Schemnad, a Master’s graduate of Developmental Studies, because he wore a keffiyeh to the graduation ceremony.

Schemnad wore a keffiyeh, a shawl often worn to express Palestinian solidarity, under his TISS shawl to the graduation ceremony. He removed it before his major cohort was called to receive their diplomas on stage, but not before Pro-Vice-Chancellor Das saw it and came down from the stage to request that Schemnad leave the ceremony as the keffiyeh allegedly violated decorum. After negotiating, Das allowed Schemnad to stay, but did not give him  his certificate.

The university later awarded Schemnad his degree after he submitted three written apologies to the administration. 

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the withholding of a student’s diploma in retaliation for exercising the right to freedom of expression. Higher education authorities have an obligation not to interfere with expressive activity, so long as that activity is undertaken peacefully and responsibly. Even when reversed, such actions have a chilling effect on academic freedom. 

Sources:
https://maktoobmedia.com/india/tiss-hyderabad-pro-vc-refused-to-give-certificate-to-student-for-wearing-keffiyeh-on-campus/
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/controversy-erupts-over-student-wearing-keffiyeh-at-tiss-convocation/articleshow/113827771.cms
https://thesouthfirst.com/telangana/a-symbol-of-solidarity-a-forced-apology-and-chants-of-jai-bhim-intolerance-at-tiss-hyderabad/