IIT Madras revokes ban on Dalit students group, appoints faculty advisor for Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle​

Chennai: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras on Sunday evening issued formal orders revoking the ban on a Dalit students body Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle (APSC).

The ban was revoked following a meeting between the student group and the IIT Director, ANI reported.

The authorities of IIT Madras also admitted that the students group did not violated any guidelines. While dropping its decision to de-recognise APSC, the institute also appointed Professor Miland Brahme as Advisor after talks between the Dean of Students and representatives of APSC to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, as per an English news channel, reacting over revocation of the ban, APSC said, "This is a victory for a strong democratic students movement."

Speaking to news agency ANI, an APSC member Akhil said, "Today we had a long meeting with the Director. Now, APSC has been unconditionally recognized by IIT Madras."

"The de-recognization of APSC has been revoked and some of our demands have been met. We have asked for an unconditional apology from the management," he added.  

The development comes shortly after the People's Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) urged to the authorities of IIT Madras to roll-back the decision by calling it "undemocratic" and "unilateral".

Earlier in the day, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) had criticised the de-recognition of the Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle in IIT-Madras, adding that it has invited the institute`s acting director Professor K Ramamurthy as well as the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) to discuss how the incident can be resolved at the earliest.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had also attacked the NDA government over "centralisation" of power and de-recognition of the student group in IIT Madras. He had asserted that his party will always stand against injustice whether done on Dalits, tribals, women or people from any religion.

IIT Madras had earlier de-recognised the Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle over an anonymous complaint to the central government that it was trying to spread hatred towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s policies by distributing provocative pamphlets and posters in the campus, igniting a massive controversy.

Ramamurthy had said the group had not been working according to the guidelines issued by the represented body. He also added that the Dean of the institute has asked the students` group to present their stand.

(With Agency inputs)