New Delhi: The Supreme Court today declined to entertain a public interest litigation seeking the court’s intervention on the stalemate over the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the Chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India at Pune.
The advocate for the petitioner Vineet Dhanda argued that the reputed institute is paralysed by a students’ strike and the government is not doing anything to find a solution.
The petitioner wanted the top court to direct the Maharashtra government to provide security to the students who want to attend the classes.
The Supreme Court dismissed the petition.
Classes at the premier film institute have been suspended for about three months now, as the students protest the appointment of small-time TV actor and BJP member Gajendra Chauhan as Chairman.
Late last month, government sent a three-member delegation which held talks with various stakeholders including the protesting students to end the stir.
Kindling the hopes of a resolution of the long-drawn agitation by the students that raised the issue of an alleged ‘saffronisation’ of various national academic institutions and their autonomy, the delegation led by S M Khan had held discussions with FTII students, faculty and staff. The discussions were later described as “satisfactory” by all involved.
Apart from a stand on the students’ demands, which include removal of Chauhan and four members of the FTII body, who allegedly lack “credentials and status”, the government committee is also expected to make known its stand on the controversial police complaint filed by FTII director Prashant Pathrabe that led to the arrests of five students who had allegedly detained him during a demonstration.
