Major Indian universities have issued strict advisories warning students against participating in ongoing demonstrations demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, sparking fierce backlash from political figures and public personalities on July 24, 2026.
University Advisories Target Jantar Mantar Protests
Delhi University shared an advisory on social media on Thursday, telling all students to stay away from unlawful assemblies, including protests at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. According to the university statement, demonstrations at Jantar Mantar are strictly regulated as per directives of the Supreme Court of India and may invite legal action. The messaging also warned that such activities pose serious risks to personal safety and can impact academic progress, while cautioning against fake and misleading content.
Jawaharlal Nehru University followed suit on Friday morning, advising stakeholders of its epistemic community to prioritize personal safety and refrain from participating in in or visiting gatherings at or around Jantar Mantar. Jawaharlal Nehru University also warned students regarding social media use, stating that violations may invite legal consequences and disciplinary action under the university code of conduct. These measures mirror actions taken across multiple cities over the past few weeks as protests spread.
Did You Know? Delhi University’s advisory explicitly cited Supreme Court of India directives regarding demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, while urging students to prioritize compliance with the law.
Political Leaders and Public Figures Condemn Restrictions
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi slammed the Delhi University directive on Friday morning in a strongly worded post on X. Gandhi asked how the university dared to threaten students for exercising democratic rights and stated that the institution would be held accountable when the time comes. Congress MP and Delhi University alumnus Deepender Hooda also condemned the statement, questioning which Supreme Court ruling rendered Jantar Mantar assemblies as a blanket unlawful category.
Public figures also weighed in against the crackdowns. Actor and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt posted on X that student safety is more in jeopardy if voices are suppressed, arguing that supporters must uphold the right to speak out rather than maintain a conspiracy of silence. Meanwhile, institutions outside the capital have faced similar tensions. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee issued an advisory cautioning against political movements without prior permission, though the institute later clarified that the communication is an annual administrative issuance under existing conduct rules rather than a fresh policy. At Indian Institute of Technology Madras, a student claimed on Thursday that the Dean asked individuals to take down Instagram posts and solidarity videos supporting the protests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did universities issue advisories against the protests?
According to the official statements, universities like Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University cited Supreme Court directions on public demonstrations, personal safety risks, potential legal action, and the impact on academic progress to urge students to stay away from gatherings at Jantar Mantar.
How did political figures respond to Delhi University’s directive?
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi slammed the move on X, stating that the university would be held accountable for threatening students exercising democratic rights. Congress MP Deepender Hooda also condemned the statement as misleading and threatening.
What actions were reported at other institutions like Indian Institute of Technology Madras?
A student at Indian Institute of Technology Madras claimed on Thursday that the Dean asked students to take down Instagram posts and a solidarity video related to the Jantar Mantar protests after calling their faculty advisor.
What steps should academic institutions take to balance student safety with democratic rights during widespread protests?