PIL seeks to end FTII strike

A public interest litigation filed in the Bombay High Court, seeks directions for the Union government to frame transparent policies for the appointment of heads and chairpersons of institutes like Film and Television Institute of India. Students of the premier institution in Pune are on strike opposing the appointment of its chairman Gajendra Chauhan.

The PIL filed by advocate Vineet Dhanda, who had moved the Supreme Court in September, on the same grounds was disposed off without any directions.

In his petition Dhanda had said that directions must be given to the government to make a positive effort to end the present crisis between students of FTII and its faculty. Further directions are sought for the government of Maharashtra to protect the students' interest and security, especially for those who are willing to attend classes but are being prevented by anti-social elements.

On Monday, a division bench of Justices V M Kanade and Dr Shalini Phansalkar Joshi issued notices with two weeks' notification to the Union and state governments, and Vikas Urs, leader of the FTII Students Association.

The petition urges that students and the government do not want to end the crisis through dialogue, thus disturbing the nation and education system. The right to education is an important fundamental right and the government is duty-bound to safeguard it.

The plea also urges that the government is duty-bound to prevent similar strikes as students are not concerned with the politics of vendetta, which is what is happening at FTII. The government has been unable to control the situation as few students are hell-bent on destroying the reputation of an esteemed institution like FTII, which has brought laurels to our country.