'Varsity should be safe space for students to dissent'; Govt gets AUD to drop pupil's fine

New Delhi: Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday directed the authorities to ensure that no action is taken against the Ambedkar University student fined for allegedly posting "distasteful remarks" online against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, prompting the varsity to withdraw its earlier order.

Sisodia, who spoke to the penalised student on Monday, also ordered that relevant directions be issued to all universities that come under the aegis of the Delhi government to ensure that no such action is taken against students in future for expressing their opinions, unless they are damaging to the social fabric of the country or go against its constitutional values.

A fine of Rs 5,000 was imposed on Neha, a final year student of the university, last week for allegedly posting "distasteful remarks" online against the chief minister during the annual convocation on December 23 last year. Kejriwal was the chief guest at the event.

"It has been brought to my notice that disciplinary action is been taken against a student of Ambedkar University Delhi for voicing certain remarks against the chief minister and myself. Firstly, no action should be taken against any student for expressing a viewpoint that is different from the government or the university,

unless the said statement damages the social fabric of our country or is against our constitutional values," Sisodia said in an official order.

"Secondly, since the student was expressing her viewpoint against the government, as being reported in media, the matter should have first been brought to our notice before initiating any action against her. A university should be a safe space for students to freely voice their opinions, debate and develop their points of views. No student should be punished for exercising their right to free speech within the university space," he added.

Sisodia, who is also Delhi's Education Minister, further said, "This is not the vision I have for my country or any of our universities. If voices of criticism and dissent cannot be expressed against political leaders in our country, then we are no longer a democracy but a dictatorship. And this, in itself, is a reason why the Right to Freedom of Speech must be secured for every student and every citizen".

The deputy chief minister directed the principal secretary, higher education to look into the matter and ensure that the fine imposed on the student is cancelled and she faces no action for her remarks.

According to university officials, the order imposing the fine on the student has been withdrawn following Delhi government's order.