Gauhati University has expelled a student for life and two others for one year each for their alleged involvement in anti-varsity activities, amounting to indiscipline.
According to an order dated May 28 and handed over today, Milton Handique was expelled permanently with immediate effect, while Rejaul Karim and Writtick Saikia each have been thrown out of the university for one year.
Handique and Karim are students of LLB (6th Semester) and Saikia is from 4th Semester of Communication and Journalism.
The order was issued at a time when examinations were going on in the university.
The notification said: "...After completion of the enquiry and hearing conducted by the Residence, Health and Discipline Board (R.H&D), GU, in its meeting held on 22-04-2016 and as approved by the Vice Chancellor, Gauhati University, dated 27-05-2016, disciplinary actions have been taken."
The enquiry found the students "guilty of indulging in activities detrimental to the university amounting to indiscipline", it added.
As soon as the order was handed over to him, Handique fell ill following which his friends admitted him at a hospital, where he is undergoing treatment in the ICU.
Although the order did not mention the students' activities, a senior faculty member and part of the administration said Handique had uploaded a "derogatory" post on Facebook against the university regarding leaking of a question paper a few months ago.
"The other two students have been filing RTI queries in many departments. When they did not get answers from some, they threatened to lock those departments," he added.
However, friends of the trio alleged that the action was taken due to political reasons at the behest of All Assam Students Union (AASU).
"Milton had opposed hoisting of AASU flag in the recently- concluded Varsity Week. Although it was hoisted in the main event, AASU could not do it in Law Week due to his strong protest. Since then AASU was trying to harm him anyhow," a student said, requesting anonymity.
While Handique is a member of Chatra Mukti Sangram Samiti (CMSS), the student wing of Akhil Gogoi-led Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, Karim and Saikia recently resigned from it.
Students claim it was for the first time in the history of GU that AASU flag was not hoisted during the Law Week. It has been a tradition that AASU flag is hoisted during Varsity Week along with the flags of the university and GU Students Union.
AASU General Secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi termed the allegation as false and baseless, saying "The university authorities do not take decisions as per AASU. Administration is an independent body."
"We do not support any action that destroys the career of a student. No one has the right to destroy one's life. Anyone can make mistake, but he or she should be given chance to correct himself or herself in a democratic society," he added.
A CMSS member said the organisation will launch a protest against the university's "dictatorial" move if the order is not revoked immediately.
