Overview
- IIT Roorkee circulated an internal advisory dated July 20 reminding students, faculty and staff that its notified conduct rules bar participation in political discussions or activities without prior permission.
- Screenshots of the advisory went viral on social media on July 21 and drew sharp criticism from users and politicians who called it a gag order and demanded a retraction.
- The institute issued a public clarification saying the email is an annual routine reminder and not a new directive, and it emphasised that personal views expressed by individuals do not reflect the institute.
- The advisory specifically warned against public statements that could 'embarrass' the institute’s relations with the Central Government, a clause that critics say clashes with constitutional free speech for students.
- The notice arrived during large student protests over the NEET paper leak led by the Cockroach Janta Party and has fuelled broader concern about academic institutions using conduct rules or legal language to curb public criticism.