JAMMU, SEPTEMBER 20: Several students of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu were issued show-cause notices for missing a lamp-lighting ceremony organised on September 17 to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, with the notices warning of a possible ₹500 fine.
The notices, issued by the IIM Students Council, asked the students to submit written explanations for their absence from the “Deepak Lighting Ceremony”, for which attendance had been marked mandatory.
“This is to inform you that you were marked absent from the ‘Deepak Lighting Ceremony’ held on September 17, despite attendance being mandatory. You are hereby required to submit a written explanation stating the reason for your absence,” the notice said.
It added that exemptions would be granted only on medical grounds and asked students to submit their explanations by September 18.
IIM Students Council president Akul Sharma said notices were initially issued to 65 students, but some were later withdrawn after it was found that certain students were away for placements while others were unwell.
“However, some of them were away for placements, while others were unwell. Their notices have since been withdrawn. No student has been fined Rs 500 so far,” Sharma said, adding that the notices “were issued as per the rules”.
An IIM spokesperson also clarified that no fine had been imposed on any student.
“No fine has been imposed on any student, but the issue has taken a political turn. Students are encouraged to participate in events organised on the campus so that they remain engaged and active,” the spokesperson said.
The ceremony was held at the main reception area of the Academic Block and was attended by BJP MLA Yudhvir Sethi and IIM Director Prof BS Sahay, among others.
While extending birthday greetings to the Prime Minister, Prof Sahay said, “We once looked to the world for direction; today, the world looks up to us.”
The issue subsequently drew a political response, with Congress’ Jammu and Kashmir in-charge Syed Naseer Hussain questioning the decision to make attendance mandatory for an event marking the Prime Minister’s birthday.
“Is this part of an IIM’s academic mandate, or has PM Modi’s publicity been brought onto the campus as a compulsory exercise?” Hussain posted on X.
He said educational institutions should encourage independent thinking and argued that political celebrations should not be made compulsory for students.
