A group of representatives from Karnataka’s academic, literary, and cultural circles have strongly condemned the decision of Azim Premji University administration to file criminal cases against its own students, demanding that the complaints be withdrawn immediately.
In a letter addressed to the Vice-Chancellor of the university’s Sarjapur campus in Bengaluru, the signatories expressed concern over the police complaints filed against students associated with the ‘Spark Reading Circle.’ According to them, while universities have the right to conduct internal disciplinary processes, filing criminal cases under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the IT Act for organising a discussion is an extreme and disproportionate measure.
The letter emphasised that educational institutions, especially universities, should encourage discussion and dialogue among students. Such spaces, they said, help students critically examine societal structures and governance. The signatories argued that instead of supporting students and ensuring their safety, the university administration chose to initiate legal action against them.
They further alleged that outsiders had entered the university campus, caused disturbances, and assaulted students during the incident. In such a situation, they said, the university authorities should have taken firm action to protect the students and reassure them.
The signatories urged the university administration to withdraw the police complaint filed against the students associated with the Spark Reading Circle. The group expressed hope that the university would reconsider its stance and resolve the issue in a manner that supports open dialogue and protects students’ rights within the campus.
