Many decry show cause notice to MU faculty
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 01 2022:
Raising strong objection against the show cause notice served by Manipur University authority to professor Dr N Sanatomba for his criticism on liquor legalisation, six student bodies (AMSU, AIMS, DESAM, KSA, MSF & SUK) as well as Youth Forum for Protection of Human Rights (YFPHR) have demanded revocation of the notice.
In a joint statement, the six student bodies termed the show cause notice issued against a faculty of the university, who has been contributing valued opinions on various social issues for years as unfortunate.
There are several issues in the state such as drugs and liquor, lack of transparency among politicians, corruption, lack of integrity and different types of crimes among others.
In such a situation, the public need to remain alert on the issues and possible counter measures to fight or address them, the joint statement said.
Teachers are the guide of the human kind and it is obvious for them to come forward and create awareness on different issues among the public.
Discussion, de bate and brainstorming sessions bring possible solution.
It is unfortunate for the university to make such attempt to gag the intellectuals from expressing their views and opinions on social issues.
Instead, the university can Organise dialogue and discourse to draw out opinions for a better future, the joint statement suggested while demanding revocation of the show cause notice served to Dr N Sanatomba.
At the same time, Youth's Forum for Protection of Human Rights (YFPHR) maintained that a citizen of the democratic country has every right to express their opinion in public interest on any plan and projects of the government for better implementation.
However, it is very unfortunate that state government & its machineries are violating the right of activists, academicians from exercising their rights to freedom of speech & expression.
"We all have witnessed many of instances of journalists, scholars & activist being arrested arbitrarily by the state police for their mere comments and criticisms of state policy & programme," the statement said while appealing to the government to respect the right to freedom of speech laid down in the constitution.
Stating that the issuing of show cause notice to Dr N Sanatomba using the rules of Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 is highly condemnable, the Forum called it as an act of violating fundamental rights of an individual and suppressing the voice of the academics.
It then urged the vice-chancellor of Manipur University to revoke the showcause notice immediately, the state government to respect and protect the rights of the civilians.