Archive · 22 Sep 2026
IIIT-Hyderabad Warns Eight Students Over Campus Platform
Eight students at IIIT-Hyderabad were warned that they could face punishment.
The students are linked to a group called No Tyrants, No Silence.
The group holds discussions about 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 showing the uncertified film could break the law without an exemption.
The institute said the group was not officially approved and had used the institute’s name.
It also said the group published private records of internal meetings.
The students said the meeting was open and that they were not told its records were private.
They asked the institute to explain which rules they had broken.
IIIT-Hyderabad issued disciplinary warnings to eight students associated with No Tyrants, No Silence.
The institute accused the platform of unauthorized use of its name and publication of confidential internal meeting minutes.
Students were given four hours on September 18 to remove online material mentioning IIIT-Hyderabad or containing the disputed minutes.
The warnings followed a cancelled proposal to screen an uncertified documentary about jailed activist Umar Khalid.
The students disputed the institute’s claims and asked which rules barred independent groups, publications and political discussion.
- Who
- The International Institute of Information Technology-Hyderabad and eight students associated with No Tyrants, No Silence.
- What
- The institute issued disciplinary warnings and ordered the removal of online material linked to the independent platform.
- When
- The Central Board of Film Certification raised its objection on September 17; the institute’s warnings were issued on September 18.
- Where
- At the International Institute of Information Technology-Hyderabad campus in Hyderabad.
- Why
- The institute cited alleged unauthorized use of its name and publication of allegedly confidential internal meeting minutes; the dispute followed a proposed documentary screening.
Students’ Position
Institute’s Position
Independent platform
Students’ Position
The students questioned what rules prevented them from running an independent group, publishing their views or identifying themselves as IIIT-Hyderabad students.
Institute’s Position
The institute said No Tyrants, No Silence was not an approved or recognized body and had improperly used the institute’s name and brand.
Meeting records
Students’ Position
The students said the meeting was open to students and participants were not told that its proceedings were confidential.
Institute’s Position
The institute described the published minutes as strictly confidential records intended for internal governance.
Political and social discussion
Students’ Position
No Tyrants, No Silence promoted discussion of caste, merit, institutional decisions 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 its recognized student organizations.
Documentary screening
Students’ Position
The platform proposed screening the documentary on Umar Khalid on campus.
Institute’s Position
The Central Board of Film Certification said public exhibition of the uncertified documentary required certification or a specific exemption, and the institute subsequently distanced itself from the proposed screening.
- Students warned
- Eight undergraduates associated with No Tyrants, No Silence
- Institute
- International Institute of Information Technology-Hyderabad
- 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
