Jamia Millia Islamia bans activist Safoora Zargar from entering campus

Days after cancelling her MPhil admission, Jamia Millia Islamia has banned research scholar and activist Safoora Zargar from entering the varsity campus. An office order stated that Safoora Zargar is ‘trying to use the university platform for her malafide political agenda’.

Zargar, one of the faces of anti-CAA protests, had suffered jail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the alleged conspiracy case related to the Delhi riots. She was released on bail in June 2020 on humanitarian and medical grounds.

According to an office order, protests and marches organised by the activist were cited as the reason for banning her from the campus.

The office order read: “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 a peaceful academic environment across the campus, has approved campus on ex-student Ms. Safoora Zargar with immediate effect.”

Ravinder Kumar, the dean of department of Social Sciences at Jamia, was quoted as saying to the Quint: “Safoora Zargar was given ample chances to not have her admission cancelled by the Board of Education, she did nothing about it. She could have taken many routes, we gave her an extension of one whole semester and still her work was not considered satisfactory by the supervisor. We can’t do anything about that. She had the option to take a maternity leave as well, but she didn’t do that either.”

Meanwhile, in a separate notice to students, the university proctor has written that the participation of multiple students in protests in support of Zargar “is a gross violation of Jamia’s rules and regulations, and viewed separately by the Jamia authorities. Therefore, you are hereby directed to explain in writing why disciplinary action should not be taken against you.” – INDIA NEWS STREAM