DNA EXCLUSIVE: IIT-Delhi students fume over 'smoking and drinking' diktat

A decision by the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi administration to take action against students for smoking and drinking on the campus has set off angry reactions from the students, who have termed the move an act of "moral policing".

The engineering students at the premier institute have been asked to sign an undertaking declaring that they won't light cigarettes or consume alcohol on the premises. Citing country's anti-drug laws, IIT-D has said that any violation could lead to their "expulsion".

According to the IIT-D administration, it came out with the diktat after discussing "code of conduct" with students' representatives. But the students, particularly those doing post-graduation and research, are in no mood to buy the argument.

The institute cannot have the same set of metrics for everyone at IIT-D, said a student pursuing PhD in management. "We are not against the move as it is for the betterment of those who are in their early 20s. But why students above 25 are being directed to sign such undertakings of moral policing?"

The move by IIT-D, which was ranked third among the country's engineering college in the latest National Institution Ranking Framework ratings, comes nearly two months after IIT-Bombay riled students by banning meat and eggs at one of its cafeterias. It withdrew the order after drawing severe criticism.

The upset students at IIT-D say they plan to air their displeasure through the social media. "Some post-graduation and PhD students have received warning mails from the administration over the similar issue. What is the problem if a 28-year-old is having some beer quietly in his room? We will raise our concerns over this moral policing on public platforms soon. We are not going to sign this undertaking," said another PhD scholar.

IIT-D Director V Ramgopal Rao the booze-and-puff diktat is a part of an ongoing process wherein the institute is asking students to decide "what is acceptable for them". He said, "The members of Students Affairs Council have been working on setting some code of conducts for the students in a bid to avoid any confusion at the campus. And, they have come up with this. This is not something related to moral policing. Students are simply taking decisions for themselves." The PG and PhD students have considerable representation in the Council, said Rao.

Council members though contrasted Rao's version saying the undertaking is not the part of the "code of conduct" they are working on. "This has come directly from the dean of student affairs. We were not consulted on this," said Priyanshi, general secretary of the Council.

Despite attempts, TR Sreekrishnan, dean of student affairs, could not be reached for comments.

TOLD TO SIGN UNDERTAKING

• Citing anti-drug laws, the students have been told to give an undertaking that they won’t smoke or drink on campus.
   
• Violation of the norms may lead to expulsion, says IIT-D