Representation Image | Courtesy: PTI
The Jamia Millia Islamia has asked its students and teachers not to assemble in and around it’s campus as the Delhi police has imposed restrictions under section 144 of the CrPC in the entire Okhla area, PTI reports. In a notice issued late on Monday, September 26, the chief proctor of the university said the SHO of the Jamia Nagar police station has informed that the restrictions have been imposed since September 19 as information was received that some people or groups may indulge in activities prejudicial to the maintenance of peace. Only last week, there had been a protests when student leader, Safoora Zargar, out on bail, was refused entry on the campus.
On September 27, the SHO further said that the restrictions would be in place in the entire Okhla (Jamia Nagar) area till November 17, the notice added. The police have, however, denied that the order is related to the ongoing action against the Popular Front of India (PFI). Section 144 of the CrPC prohibits the assembly of four or more people in an area. Violation of the order is punishable under section 188 of the IPC.
In view of the order, all students, and teaching and non-teaching staff of Jamia Millia Islamia are advised not to assemble in and outside the campus in groups or as part of any march, agitation, dharna or meeting, the notice by the chief proctor stated. The notice came a day after Jamia’s teachers announced a peaceful protest march.
Last week, days after Jamia Millia Islamia cancelled student activist, Safoora Zargar’s Ph.D admission, the university coupled this with “banning” her entry in the campus for unnecessary agitation on irrelevant and objectionable subjects. In a justification for this latest action, the Chief Proctor of the university said that Zargar was “using” the students of Jamia as a platform to fulfil malicious and political agenda’ which has led the university to issue the order. Zargar was a M.Phil student at Jamia Millia Islamia and the media coordinator of the Razamia Coordination Committee.
Zargar, was in 2020, was jailed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act from April 10 to June 24, 2020 in the alleged conspiracy case of Delhi riots 2020, for making provocative speeches on February 23, 2020. She was released on bail in June 2020 on humanitarian and medical grounds as she was expecting her first child.
The university, Jamia Milia Islamia stated officially that Safoora Zargar was involved in organizing agitations, protests and marches on the campus against irrelevant and objectionable issues to disturb the peaceful academic environment along with a few outside students.
“It has been observed that Ms. Safoora Zargar (ex student) has been involved in organizing agitations, protests and marches on the campus against the irrelevant and objectionable issues to disturb the peaceful academic environment with few students who are mostly outsiders. She is instigating innocent students of the university and trying to use the university platform for her malafide political agenda along with some other students. Further, she is hampering the normal functioning of the institution. In view of above, the competent authority, for maintaining peaceful academic environment across the campus, has approved campus ban on ex student Ms. Safoora Zargar with immediate effect,” reads the order issued by the university.
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