Your kid's conduct is your responsibility: Jamia launches parental patrol amid rising student activism
Jamia Millia Islamia
has introduced a unique requirement in its admission process — a declaration from parents or local guardians, holding them accountable for the "conduct and character" of newly admitted students, reported TOI. This provision, absent in other central universities in Delhi, reflects a growing administrative push at Jamia to reinforce order and preempt unrest.
The clause forms part of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for admissions that was recommended by a university-appointed committee and approved by the vice-chancellor in April last year. Alongside the usual student declaration, the SOP now includes a statement that reads: 'I hereby declare that I take full responsibility of his/her conduct and character as a student of Jamia Millia Islamia. I shall make myself available to the university whenever required.'
While anti-ragging declarations from parents are a standard requirement in Indian universities, Jamia's broader stipulation that guardians vouch for their ward's overall behavior is seen as an unusual step, said the report.
Climate of caution
The decision comes in the wake of growing tensions on campus. In February, students staged a sit-in protest near the central canteen, demanding a rollback of disciplinary actions taken against their peers.
Live Events
The university responded by filing a police complaint. Protesters later alleged that police officials contacted their families, urging them to intervene. Students also accused the university of publicly displaying their personal details while placing them under suspension — a claim Jamia has denied.
'Instead of addressing our concerns directly, they reached out to our families and portrayed us as troublemakers,' a second-year student who was part of the protest told TOI. 'This new clause feels like another tool to deter student dissent.'
Since the anti-CAA protests in 2019, Jamia has maintained a campus ban on demonstrations. In recent months, it has issued more frequent warnings against 'unauthorised gatherings.'
Not the norm
A university faculty member, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the undertaking as a preventive measure designed to ensure accountability and deter disruptive behavior from the outset of a student's tenure at the university.
By contrast, institutions such as Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University do not require such parental declarations beyond the mandatory anti-ragging affidavit. Officials from both universities confirmed to TOI that they have no policy requiring parents or guardians to take responsibility for students' overall conduct.
Jamia's media coordinator did not respond to requests for comment.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
18 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘Terror and sports cannot go together': Congress on Asia Cup matches against Pakistan
The Chandigarh Congress has opposed the proposed India-Pakistan cricket matches scheduled to be held during the Asia Cup in September, urging the Union Government to withhold clearance for the fixtures. The party has argued that 'terror and sports cannot go together,' questioning the moral and strategic logic behind resuming cricket ties with Pakistan. Rajiv Sharma, chief spokesperson of the Chandigarh Congress, said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has agreed to play against Pakistan at a neutral venue. He said the people of Chandigarh and other places in the country are upset with what he termed an 'unwarranted agreement,' particularly at a time when Operation Sindoor, launched in response to cross-border terrorism, is still ongoing. 'It is extremely disappointing that while not a single perpetrator of the Pahalgam attack has been brought to justice, the cricket boards of both nations are moving towards friendly sporting ties,' Sharma said. He warned that Indian sponsors' funds could inadvertently benefit the Pakistan Cricket Board, which, he claimed, may use the money to further terror activities against India. The Congress leader also questioned the BCCI's rationale behind opting for a neutral venue to accommodate Pakistan's interests, stating that India holds the right to host the tournament and should not compromise its position. Calling the decision an 'insult to the self-respect of the people of Chandigarh and the nation,' Sharma urged Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari to raise the issue in Parliament. He also slammed the office-bearers of the Union Territory Cricket Association for their silence on the matter, accusing them of compromising national pride for personal or political gains.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
20 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Draft Bihar poll roll not final list, clarifies Election Commision
The Election Commission on Sunday hit out at those who, it claimed, were creating an impression that the draft voters' list to be published in Bihar will be the final roll. The poll authority said it is "not able to understand" that when a full one-month period from August 1 till September 1 is available to point out wrongful inclusion or wrongful exclusion of any name, "why are they creating such a big fuss now?" The EC's statement came on the conclusion of the month-long phase one of Bihar's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters' list, where house-to-house surveys were held to distribute semi-filled enumeration forms to the electorate that were to be returned after being filled up. Enumeration forms from 7.24 crore electors have been received. The EC also said that 36 lakh people were found to have either permanently shifted or were not found. It pointed out that seven lakh Bihar electors were found to have been enrolled at multiple places. "Why not ask their 1.6 lakh booth-level agents to submit claims and objections from August 1 till September 1," the Commission quipped. Booth-level agents appointed by political parties work with the EC's booth-level officers in preparing or updating the voters' list. "Why are some persons trying to give an impression that the draft list is the final list, which it is not, as per special intensive revision orders," the EC statement said. Various opposition parties in the state, which goes to the polls later this year, have claimed that crores of eligible citizens will be disenfranchised during the roll revision for want of documents. They have also claimed that the ruling BJP will benefit as the state machinery in Bihar will target people opposed to the ruling alliance in the state. Stepping up its attack, the Congress on Sunday said the Election Commission should not have "institutional arrogance" and asked it to stop the SIR in Bihar. At a joint press conference with CPI(ML) Liberation General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, RJD MP Manoj Jha and CPI(M) leader Nilotpal Basu, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the exercise being undertaken by the EC has become a "citizenship test" and questioned its legality. "I humbly request the Election Commission, this is not a matter of political obstinacy. It is not a matter of institutional arrogance. Please reconsider it. Everyone is urging you," he said. The BJP hit back at the INDIA bloc parties for their opposition to SIR, alleging they were trying to "rob" Indian democracy on the back of foreign infiltrators. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said the Election Commission's drive is aimed at bringing required changes in electoral rolls through transparency. He alleged that the INDIA bloc parties have been winning in places where the presence of infiltrators has brought maximum changes in demography.
Mint
20 minutes ago
- Mint
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says India no longer has to be golden bird, time to become a lion
India has to become strong and also wealthy from an economic point of view as the world understands power, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Sunday. Bhagwat also said that India no longer has to be the 'golden bird' and it was time for it to become a 'lion'. 'It is necessary because the world understands power. So Bharat should become strong. It also has to become wealthy from an economic perspectives,' he added, while speaking at the national education conference, 'Gyan Sabha', organised by the RSS-linked Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas in Kochi. The RSS chief went on to say that 'Bharat' should not be translated as otherwise it would lose its identity and along with it the respect it enjoys in the world. According to a PTI report, Mohan Bhagwat also said that Bharat, a proper noun, should not be translated as its identity is respected 'because it is Bharat'. "Bharat is a proper noun. It should not be translated. 'India is Bharat'. That is true. But Bharat is Bharat. That is why, while talking, writing and speaking, be it personal or public, we should keep Bharat as Bharat. 'Bharat must remain Bharat. The identity of Bharat is respected because it is Bharat. If you lose your identity, whatever other meritorious qualities you may have, you will never be respected or secure in this world. That is the thumb rule,' PTI quoted the RSS chief as saying. Just a day ago, Bhagwat had said that the education system in the country was developed under the long-term influence of colonial ideas and for a developed nation, an alternative based on Indian philosophy needs to be formulated. For that, the focus should be 'deep, realistic, and completely Indian-based,' Bhagwat said. According to the statement issued by the Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, Bhagwat said during the conference that the workers should become competent in the field they work, be role models in it and develop friendly relations in order to lead others forward. Before the meeting began, RSS chief Bhagwat visited the birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya and lit a traditional lamp (Nilavilakku) to mark the start of the conference, held at the Chitvilasam auditorium. Around 100 delegates from across India, including national coordinators of the Nyas and experts in education, are taking part in the discussions. The focus of the two-day meeting is on building a roadmap for educational reforms to support the vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat).
