On Thursday, a section of students, resident doctors and faculty of AIIMS took out a candlelight march at the institutes premises against the amended citizenship law and proposed nationwide NRC, in spite of a warning by the administration of disciplinary action against those holding any protest or strike within the complex.

A group of students, scientists, researchers, resident doctors and staff took out a candlelight march from the JLN auditorium till Gate no 1 of AIIMS to oppose the "state-sponsored violence" against protesters and demand to roll back of Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The demonstrators held posters, sang Sare Jahan se Accha and read out the Preamble to the Constitution.

The Resident Doctors Association and the Students Union of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have denied any such demonstration.

On Thursday afternoon, the AIIMS administration had issued a memorandum advising its students, resident doctors, faculty and staff against holding any protest or strike within the premises of the institute and had warned that any violation would lead to disciplinary and other actions.

Citing a May 20, 2002, Delhi High Court order, the memorandum had issued by the Registrar of AIIMS listing out a code of conduct applicable to all students, staff, nurses and faculty members of the institute. According to the memorandum, not anyof the employee or faculty member will cease work for any reason what so ever or disrupt work or aid or abet such disruptions or cessation.

Furthermore, no use of loud speakers or shouting of slogans, demonstrations, dharna are allowed within the campus, adding that no protest meetings of any kind what so ever are to be held within 500 metres from the boundary of the institute.

The memorandum also stated that there should be no interfering in any official work and all trade union activities are to be carried out outside the campus.

Violation of the orders of the High court of Delhi by any individual employee, group of employees/students/resident doctors/associations/Unions etc. will be in breaking of the directions of High court and making them liable for disciplinary action and for contempt of court too.

The memorandum stated that all chief of centers/ head of departments are requested to bring it to the notice of students, residents, staff and faculty of the department’scenters and offices.

On Thursday, defying unprecedented prohibitory orders across regions, simultaneous protests were seen in multiple cities against the newly amended citizenship law, provoking the authorities to detain a large number of activists and students and hold on mobile services in parts of the national capital and other states.

Source: The New Indian Express