Around 30 NLSIU Bengaluru students had been detained by local police earlier today between 11am to 530pm, alongside NLS professor Kunal Ambasta and (non-NLS) historian Ramachandra Guha, after protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The police detained the students as a group of possibly up to 250 others in a hall near the Adugodi police station, confirmed a student bar association (SBA) spokesperson.
All, including Guha, were released by 530pm today.
Around 80 NLS students are understood to have taken part in the protests, though others were active behind the scenes assisting, such as by making a spreadsheet to keep track of student whereabouts, whether they need any medical help, if they have access to lawyers and alumni who could be contacted for help, for instance.
One fifth-year NLS student commented that “each and every citizen should be our on the roads at this time pretesting against this clamping down of dissent”, adding that “dissent is the highest form of patriotism”.
In Hyderabad, although Nalsar Hyderabad students are currently on term break, two students and one alumnus were detained by police after protesting, but released before 5pm, according to a Nalsar stucouncil (SBC) spokesperson.
Another two Nalsar students were briefly picked up by police at Delhi protests but released shortly after.
But that’s not all that has happened in law and CAA...
Round up of events below, and on request, please share any other activities or updates in the comments and we can include here (but please refrain from inter-factional name-calling, racism and abusing each other in the comments).
One law firm shuts shop in Delhi
One law firm, very neutrally referring to the protests as “civil disobedience”, politely informed clients that the office would be shut today:
Dear All,
Please be informed that due to ongoing Civil Disobedience in some parts of Delhi our telephone and internet services have/will be affected / interrupted. Due to the same reason our offices are being closed today to ensure employee safety. Therefore, please expect delayed responses from our office. In case of any urgent matters please call on the below numbers of our team.
JGLS legal aid clinic helps out protesters
JGLS Sonepat’s Legal Aid Clinic has tweeted that it has “filed representations and complaints against the Police brutality” before various ministries.
Battle of the statements
Statements galore by alumni and students of national law universities (NLUs) expressing their positions on the CAA. Most, perhaps unsurprisingly considering the liberal education most law schools impart, oppose the CAA so far, but then at a few NLUs things have gotten (or been painted as) more political, in the right vs left sense.
NLU Delhi alumns make statement
NLU Delhi students and alumni have made a statement opposing CAA, though it’s not clear how many have signed it (if you have a link to a signed version, please do share with us). The NLU Delhi alumns condemned the police action and “especially denounce the shutdown of the internet in different parts of the country, which only confirms the suspicion of executive misuse of power and police brutality”.
They also pointed out a “dangerous lack of discussion” in Parliament on issues that affected the “very fabric of the nation”, without reference “made to standing committees for critical bills”.
612 GNLU students & alumns sign pro freedom-of-speech statement
As of 17 December afternoon, according to the unofficial GNLU blog, Jury’s Out.
We, the students and alumni of Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), condemn in the strongest possible terms the violence and use of force against our fellow citizens – students and otherwise – exercising their fundamental right to protest across India. [...]
We stand in solidarity with the students and others exercising their fundamental right to dissent and protest.
These GNLU students did not opine on CAA per se.
RGNUL statement signed by 263 anti CAA
Update 20 December 2019: RGNUL students have made a statement against CAA signed by 263, as of 18 December 2019, 1pm.
NUJS alumns (402) vs alumns (74)
Meanwhile, the split in NUJS Kolkata’s student body has clearly invigorated alumni on both sides (see our previous report from earlier this week for background).
First off, 402 NUJS alumni signed a strongly-worded petition not just in solidarity of protestors but also against CAA point blank, by late on 17 December 2019, noting the following:
NUJS Alumni – Statement in Solidarity We, the undersigned, are alumni from the National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata. As Indian citizens and members of the legal fraternity, we feel compelled to put forth this statement in opposition of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the atrocities that have been perpetrated post its enactment.
The CAA has been enacted with the stated intent of removing hurdles in granting citizenship to persecuted Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists and Parsis, who have arrived from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh prior to 31st December, 2014. However, the impact of the CAA alongside the proposed nationwide National Citizens Register (NRC), will, in all likelihood, lead to the persecution of several segments of the population, most notably the Muslim community which has been excluded from the CAA. The potential impact of the NRC on many other communities who may struggle with documentation cannot be overstated.
The collective impact of the CAA and NRC threatens the very fabric of India. It runs afoul of our constitutional principles, our obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the cornerstone of international refugee law-- the principle of non-refoulement. We view the CAA and its implementation with a strong sense of foreboding--one that may polarise our beloved nation beyond repair.
We also stand in solidarity with student communities and citizens across the country, who are peacefully voicing their opposition against CAA. We do not condone violence in protests, but we strongly condemn the brutality and disproportionate force used by law enforcement authorities in various parts of the country, including Uttar Pradesh and Delhi to muzzle dissent, particularly in educational institutions. We demand that those responsible for such atrocities be held accountable under law.
We appeal to the Government of India to respect the fundamental right to peaceful protest and allow the free exercise of this right across the country.
NB: This represents the views of the signatories below. We understand that there may be dissent among certain members of the alumni - however, we categorically dissociate ourselves from any views supporting CAA and state violence.
Then, earlier today, another petition made the rounds on Twitter also purporting to be from NUJS Kolkata alumni but this time in favour of the CAA (though, perhaps tellingly about where the majority of young students’ support lies, that petition only managed to muster the apparent public support of 74 signatories, despite having had an extra two days over the earlier petition).).
That petition took the “opportunity to thank our Hon’ble Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi and Hon’ble Home Minister Sh. Amit Shah for ensuring the CAA’s purposeful enactment that is sure to bring much needed relief to persecuted minorities from our neighbouring three countries which have shown a pervasive, systematic and institionalized track record against such minorities”.
That letter added that the signatories believed the CAA was “by no means anti any particular community specifically Muslims and is founded on an intelligible differentia under Article 14 of the Constitution”, having a “reasonable nexus” to its objective of trying to protect “oppressed minorities” from those three countries. They were “appalled by the logic fronted by those in opposition to the CAA”.
NUJS has become a bit of a political hotspot after allegations that NUJS was slower than other NLUs in supporting a statement condemning police violence, after a senior Student Juridical Association (SJA) office bearer had apparently said NUJS students would not sign, according to a message by the office bearer shared in screenshot of the official NLU students’ consortium WhatsApp group, which was shared on Twitter (the authenticity of which we have confirmed).
MNLU Mumbai issues correction, removes SBC prez
A similar but reverse story at MNLU Mumbai, where an office bearer made a personal statement in favour of the CAA, which was then quickly reversed by the rest of the student body, which made a statement against the CAA.
The student bar council (SBC) of MNLU Mumbai, meanwhile, clarified on 17 December, according to Republic TV’s website, that Republic’s earlier report of MNLU students supporting to the CAA/CAB was not reflective of wider student views, and based on just the student council president’s personal beliefs.
That statement, on official SBC letterhead and signed by SBC vice president and secretary, also added that the SBC president would not continue in the position.
Republic had reported on 14 December that the president of the SBC had sent out a press release welcoming the Citizenship Amendment Bill (as it then was). The press release was made on an SBC presidential letterhead and while not necessarily expressly purporting to have been on behalf of the entire SBC, it could certainly have looked that way to the average Republic TV website reader.
In the same NLU consortium WhatsApp group conversation as above (which is authentic), the MNLU president had, before making his statement, also apparently said that MNLU students would not issue a statement, which had particularly upset several other SBC members.
Right-of-Centre Twitter and blogs have been having a field day of it, claiming that the SBC president has been getting harassed “mentally” after making his statement.
All in all, just another average few days of legal education at our newly also hyper-polarised NLUs.
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theprint.in/opinion/liberal-secular-opposition-to-caa-must-not-allow-room-for-islamic-and-left-radicals/337472/
Salute our brave jawans, they are patriots.
When 20 year olds stand up for basic human decency, Bhakts say:
Hi Legal Website Editor, please play Wise Uncle to them and tell them that they are impressionable youth, they know nothing.
Is burning a bus a decency? Vandalizing? Pelting Stones at the police a decency? Even if it is. Is it basic? For sure, it isn't human. I am not pro BJP. But c'mon man. Don't compare the life of a jawan to life of a college student. If you're comparing the reaction of a Bhakt in both situations. I wonder what's your reaction. Since, Dying at the border and Standing for basic human decency (?) is somehow two completely equal situations to your mind.
Have you been to the IMA (Indian Military Academy)? Have you ever known what kind of training Para Military Forces go through?
I was in Military School (RIMC) then NDA (National Defence Academy). So, I am curious if you (maybe I am wrong, presumably a person with no experience in military training or warfare) have even the slightest of 'experience' of such training. A yes or no is all I ask of. You are free to give further opinions, I am quite eager to know what perspective 'students of law/lawyers' have.
It did spark me emotionally when I saw someone equating a Jawan at the border (Who goes through hell of a training, believe me it is HELL) before he is even allowed to be at the border. Now, you think he is on an equal footing with a college going student because "One is protecting the soul, and one is protecting the border". Having an "Army Dad/Brother/Sister" is NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH to explain the experience one goes through. You can only try and grasp it via your own intelligence and bias (maybe 1%), and you'll do so if you read further.
I am not morally superior to these "kids" (P.S. I am 20yo). I am just telling you. Don't talk about the Armed Forces in that regard. Whoever is reading this, the training that a jawan goes through is UNIMAGINABLE. You have no idea. He is not from BJP or Congress or Left or Right. Poor Chap does it all for the 'desh' and his 'saathi'. Without any vested interest. This should not be taken as a 'blame' on 'kids' who are protesting. Even if some of them think they are guarding the 'soul' of the constitution. Shouting few slogans for 30 days, getting beat by lathi (even if it is "meri awaaz daba rahe hain" getting detained is NOT equal to even 3 days of training. Yes, 3. Again, please don't look for logical fallacies, this one is straight from the heart. I have trained for 7 years.
That is why I asked if Sad Hominem has had "experience of such training" & not that if he knows someone who is in the armed forces. My father is in the Army. I still had no clue what it was like, until I lived it. Yes, about education. We got 2 hours to study every day for 5 years. 4 hours of sleep. So, yeah maybe I am less educated than you. But for sure, I know not to judge a person's education just by his comment on some website.
First of all, thank you! You understand that these are two different sets of people. Otherwise, the whole point that someone made before you was prefaced on the Non-Existence of any sort of a difference between the two sets. Thereby, they go through same set of judgement parameters in the mind of a bhakt. Somehow, the statement of Sad Hominem came out to be logically absurd as he put them in the same set while referring to "double standard" of a bhakt.
2. I meant. I don't want to judge you or the people in immediate relation with whom I am having a discussion with on the basis of a comment or an underlying assumption. If it seems like I am placing judgements on you - I am sorry. The very message of "20yo standing for basic human decency" is a consequence of a prejudicial judgement placed on their pre-assumed motives and intentions. I just said the same can't be done to a jawan. Because you have no clue what they go through. Even their own families and children are kept out of the loop of what they do. See, the judgement game is well knit with the socio-political condition and wat not. Jawan is unaware of any of this. Yet, he does his duty for 36 hours and sleeps 4 hours. In training, one of the first things they do is kick out this "judgement factor" in you. Not because, they judge others but because they shouldn't judge what will happen to them in the coming days from a moral standpoint. Certain mind trick we learn in the first 3 months of training. Follow me on IG @barzngainz. All this is LEGIT.
3. I never mentioned "relative superiority" as concept in my comment as a final judgement. In fact, I accused Sad Hominem of it. Since it was, quite evident that he had compared two sets of people on the basis of prejudicial assumptions. Also, I mentioned that my comment has logical fallacies, and it came straight from my heart. If you didn't consider it, koi nahi it's okay. In my second comment, I said - "Facts and Circumstances are unknown. There is nothing to be gained for me and you to debate over speculation of facts and likelihood of their existence."
4. "You're dumb if you think that way." I haven't judged you at all, "guest". Tell me more about you, we'll discuss and go over some points. Maybe then I'll be in a position to judge you that too personally.
5. Judge me all you want. By my "actions and words". As if all actions actions and words of mine, yours, others without any context are still congruent enough. I'll tell you one thing. Don't disrespect yourself by just considering a person via Actions and Words in the moment. Maybe you do that to your owsnself. Maybe you are too self-critical of your ownself. I completely agree with your last 2 statements. :-)
b) That statement, vis-à-vis NLUs, can't even make sense to even that lot (partly because most of them won't know we exist).
c) That statement has a mathematical fallacy. I am from NALSAR so let me respond taking us as an example. Last year, Telangana state gave us a 3+ crore construction grant (figure as heard in a direct conversation with finance department of the place). The state has a population of 3.51 crore. Assuming even 2% of these are taxpayers (keeping the number at the national average), that gives us 7.02 lakh taxpayers. This means that the average tax-payers paid a little over Rs 42 to NALSAR. Sum: you don't pay us nearly as much as you think you do.
I am fully supportive of my tax money going to JNU. This country needs thinkers who can help guide our moral compass, and I will fully support the funding of those who are not afraid to show us a mirror to our flaws, who stir up debate about who we are and what we stand for, and who help us frame and articulate our thoughts.
Many of these students will not produce work we think is important. That is OK. We need our students to know that there is the safety of a public institution where they can go and think over who we are as a nation, and where we are headed. If NLS (my alma mater) or any of the other NLUs becomes such a place, if JNU continues to do the work it has done for years, I will consider my tax money well spent.
By the way, I love my country, consider myself a patriot, and think that one of the most precious freedoms that India has given me is the freedom to criticize my country. That is a freedom I cherish and want to hold on to.
So the next time you dare to claim that they waste taxpayer money, please consider the views of actual taxpayers like me.
www.livelaw.in/news-updates/students-alumni-of-symbiosis-ils-gnlu-condemn-police-action-against-aligarh-and-jamia-students-150920
twitter.com/ANI/status/1207644609205006336
All NLUs are requested to restrain their students from using foul language and violence.
*calling it out as fake news like it actually is.
It's okay. Typos can happen.
USA: Impeaching Trump
UK: Opposing Brexit
India: Protesting against a law that they know nothing about
Eagle-eyed may correct but some notables missing. Starting with Messiah and his Hand. Sure they are administrators. But young Turks are supposed to....
I am glad many others who are known liberals have come out in open support. This includes many who are not comfortably settled abroad with flourishing careers that will not get jeopardized by 56 inchers. By the way it is not a crime to have a career abroad or the good life.
To those very much grounded here who may actually face trouble (for example PC), my salute. Really puts Messiah and Hand in sharp relief.
Besides his S/O is fighting the Modi government in the courts. I doubt they need to sign a statement to prove their loyalty or even their courage.
Maybe his current position constrains him from making public statements - but to almost everyone anywhere near nlsiu- they know where he stands.
You will have to ask him why he doesn’t simply sign it. But having been in his classes - having seen him practice what he preaches- there just is no doubt in my mind where he stands on this.
And if people who don’t know him can cast aspersions on his politics- people who do know him can speak to what they know!
(a) for something bigger;
(b) hardly being carried on the shoulders of NLU students alone.
Therefore, they aren't for you to stop. A world exists outside the students at NLUs.
In short, the constitution should forbid people protesting about things at home unless they first hold protests about everywhere else (if there is any time or country left afterwards, that is).
twitter.com/goyalanirudh/status/1208677940545769472
www.barandbench.com/apprentice-lawyer/against-the-tide-law-students-in-the-minority-express-support-for-citizenship-amendment-act
www.shabdankan.com/2019/12/513-nujs-trained-lawyers-oppose-caa-nrc.html
www.newslaundry.com/2019/12/24/dont-focus-on-the-citizenship-laws-legality-the-conversation-on-the-street-is-more-important
Tweet by Jignesh Mewani also confirmed the same and so has Indian Express Ahmedabad Edition. Where have we come down to? If law students' can't take part in peaceful protests then who can?
This tweet showcasing treatment of student protestors seems to suggest that lawfully and democratically protesting against a govt legislation is a crime. Even the VC of Christ University to ToI has given a statement that students should "not be protesting on streets" as it has become "a fashion statement". Shameful stuff from authorities of top private colleges.
Bottomline: if you don't understand where the bandwagon is heading, DON'T JUMP IN.
Peace!
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/caa-nirma-university-warns-protesting-students-parents/articleshow/72976940.cms
scroll.in/latest/947910/ahmedabad-students-of-nirma-university-made-to-give-undertaking-to-not-participate-in-caa-protests
Admittedly campus issues and CAA are very different issues. And I thank the CM for encouraging and leading dissent against this dog-whistle politics laden law. I am likely to be trolled but I do find it interesting that this CM herself never apologized when the dissent (or political cartoon perhaps) concerns her.
No political party can claim consistency in encouraging dissent and irreverence. The same holds true for law school administrations as well.
Will this CM support students if they were to protest against her govt's moves to secure control over all aspects of university administration. The Edu Minister puts it down to "we finance, we control". Then why seek control over places that you do not finance? Why use political authority to foist party apparatchiks as university administrators and governing board members? Why keep hollowing out institutions as the Reds did?
www.barandbench.com/news/people-have-a-right-to-criticise-the-ruling-government-calcutta-hc
An interesting take on CAA
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