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IIIT-Hyderabad Warns Eight Students After Documentary Screening Dispute
Eight students at IIIT-Hyderabad received warnings from their institute.
The students are linked to a group called No Tyrants, No Silence.
The group talks about topics such as caste, merit, politics and campus decisions.
It had planned to show a documentary about activist Umar Khalid.
The screening was cancelled after the film regulator said the uncertified film could not be publicly shown without an exemption.
The institute said the group was not officially recognized and had used the institute’s name.
It also said the group published private meeting records.
The students said the meeting was open and asked the institute to explain which rules they had broken.
IIIT-Hyderabad warned eight students of disciplinary action, potentially including rustication, over their association with No Tyrants, No Silence.
The notices accused the group of using the institute’s name without authorization and publishing allegedly confidential meeting minutes.
Students were given four hours on September 18 to remove related social media handles, websites and other material.
The Central Board of Film Certification said screening the uncertified documentary Prisoner No. 626710 is Present could violate the Cinematograph Act.
The students disputed the institute’s claims and questioned what rules barred independent groups, student publications and political discussions.
- Who
- IIIT-Hyderabad and eight students associated with No Tyrants, No Silence.
- What
- The institute issued disciplinary warnings and ordered removal of online material linked to the group.
- Where
- At the International Institute of Information Technology-Hyderabad campus.
- When
- The notices were issued on September 18, after the proposed documentary screening was cancelled.
- Why
- The institute cited unauthorized use of its name and publication of allegedly confidential meeting minutes; the dispute followed the proposed screening of an uncertified documentary.
Students’ Position
Institute’s Position
Independent group and institute name
Students’ Position
The students questioned what rules prevented them from operating an independent group, publishing their views or identifying themselves as IIIT-Hyderabad students.
Institute’s Position
The institute said No Tyrants, No Silence was unauthorized and had improperly used the IIIT-Hyderabad name and brand.
Publication of meeting records
Students’ Position
The students said the meeting was open to students and that participants were not told its proceedings were confidential.
Institute’s Position
The institute described the published minutes as strictly confidential internal governance records.
Campus political discussion
Students’ Position
No Tyrants, No Silence argued that students should discuss institutional decisions, caste, merit and the political role of engineers.
Institute’s Position
IIIT-Hyderabad said official campus events followed established procedures and that unauthorized activities should not be attributed to the institute or recognized student organizations.
Key facts
- Students warned
- Eight undergraduates associated with No Tyrants, No Silence
- Notice date
- September 18
- Compliance deadline
- Four hours, by 8:30 pm on September 18
- Possible penalty
- Disciplinary proceedings, potentially including rustication
- Documentary
- Prisoner No. 626710 is Present, directed by Lalit Vachani
- Film regulator
- The Central Board of Film Certification said public screening without certification or an exemption could violate the Cinematograph Act
- Institute position
- No Tyrants, No Silence was not an approved or recognized IIIT-Hyderabad body
Quotes
IIIT-Hyderabad Registrar Prof K S Rajan
Registrar of IIIT-Hyderabad who signed the disciplinary warnings
“The unauthorized use of the institute's name and brand, and the publication of confidential internal meeting minutes constitute a severe breach of institute policies, student conduct, and confidentiality guidelines.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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