The alumni allege that the institution that is supposed to produce independent journalists has been trying to curb their freedom of speech and expression.
Days after the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) suspended a student for writing an article against the sacking of a faculty member, it has now begun blocking alumni from accessing its official Twitter handle for allegedly posting against the suspension on social media.
The alumni allege that the institution that is supposed to produce independent journalists has been trying to curb their freedom of speech and expression. "How can a journalism institute who is supposed promote freedom of speech and expression try to curb it by blocking us from accessing its Twitter and Facebook pages," said a former student, who wished to remain anonymous.
The institute, however, said that the move came after some alumni posted "offensive" content about it on its social networking pages. "The institute's social media pages are there for imparting information about the institute, not to defame it. How can we allow someone writing offensive and defamatory things about the institute?" said IIMC Director General KG Suresh.
"If some former students are saying that it is their democratic right to comment about the institute then it's institute's democratic right to bar them from doing so on its official social media pages," he added.
Some alumni claimed they were blocked by the institute merely for commenting on some social media posts. "I did not even post anything regarding IIMC on any social networking site. I just made a comment on a friend's Twitter post and was immediately blocked from accessing its official handle," said another alumnus. The institute has been in the eye of the storm since an Academic Associate Narendra Singh Rao was sacked for allegedly raising voice against the sacking of some Dalit labourers working at the campus and against the recent appointment of a course director in December, 2016. Following which, a Hindi Journalism student Rohin Verma was suspended for writing an article against the sacking on an online news platform on January 9, 2017.
Later, both Rao and Verma were also barred from entering the campus. IIMC has now constituted an inquiry committee to look into the matter.
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