Students of new batch joining the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) here, which had last year witnessed strident protests against appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as chairman, will have to sign "general conduct" declaration promising to maintain "decorum and decency" on campus and not to "insult" faculty and staffers.
Though the administration has clarified that making students sign such declaration is not a new practice, some students of old batches claimed otherwise alleging the move is aimed at "intimidating" new entrants.
The new batch of students will join FTII after two consecutive 'zero' years(no fresh admissions).
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The specimen of the self-declaration affidavit of "general conduct" on the campus is available on the official FTII website.
"I will follow all rules and regulations of FTII (Institute) regarding academics, discipline and behaviour towards others on the campus.
"I understand that the Institute has full right to initiate disciplinary proceedings against me for violation of any of its rules & regulation by me. I agree to maintain decorum & decency on the campus including in hostel & staff residential areas and in any circumstances would not be insulting to the faculty, staff members and elders," it stated.
FTII clarified that the then new batch for television course too had signed similar declarations in 2014 at the time of admission.
When contacted, FTII director Bhupendra Kainthola termed as "wrong" the claims that students are being asked to sign the affidavits for the first time this year.
"All these declarations and affidavits are not new as these documents were signed by 2014 television batch as well.
"All these documents are same and there is no change and since new batches of film and television are going to start their session from August 1, 2016, we will explain to them about the rules and regulations of the institute and will ask them to sign the declarations," said Kainthola.
As per one of the undertakings, the students have to declare that they will follow all rules and regulations regarding hostel accommodation.
"I understand that accommodation in FTII may be provided only on the basis of its availability subject to fulfilling other terms & conditions. I will share accommodation offered to me by FTII willingly with others wherever FTII is providing the same to me," it stated.
"I undertake to pay all kinds of fees 100% in advance
and I would not bring any kind of external and or emotional pressure on FTII for any exemption including delay in this regard," stated another declaration.
Meanwhile, one of the students of the 2014 batch of Television course confirmed that he had signed similar set of declarations at the time of admission to the institute.
"..It is quite possible that since there was no Film batch in 2014, the students from Film section did not know about the affidavits and now since film and television batch is coming to the institute, they must have seen the documents," he said.
Meanwhile, FTII Students' Association (FSA) president Nachimuthu Harishankar today said they will ask new students not to sign the documents.
"We appeal to all new students not to sign documents and we will protest this move of institute," he said.
Another students' representative said the institute is trying to "contain" students' energy through such move so that they will not dare to question the administration.
"They want to create an atmosphere of fear in the minds of new students with such moves," he said.
FTII has also asked students to give written declarations on not "participating in act of ragging" and "not continuing employment or education besides FTII course".
The affidavits are to be given on a Rs 100 stamp paper.
On July 6, the governing council under Chauhan's leadership had approved appointment of a proctor, besides new rules regarding hostel accommodation.
The council had also given nod to new syllabus and a plan to turn FTII into "a holistic institute of cinema, television and allied arts" with introduction of new courses.
Last year, massive protests were held on the campus by students for 139 days, before they were called off, against the appointment of Chauhan--who is mainly known for his portrayal of 'Yudhishthir' in mythological TV serial 'Mahabharata'.