FTII row: 44 ex-students asked to vacate hostel

Ever since the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman of Film and Television Institute of India, students have been protesting the decision. The institute administration has now issued notices to 44 students, allegedly living on campus even after graduating years ago, to vacate their hostel rooms.

The on Thursday served notices to 44 students to vacate their hostel rooms, after they were found living on campus even after having graduated years ago.

“Today, we have issued notices to 44 students, directing them to vacate their hostel rooms immediately,” , FTII director, told Hindustan Times.

According to Pathrabe, who was given additional charge of FTII in the last week, the students have been staying in the hostel without paying fees. Failure to vacate the rooms will lead to action against them.

Of the 44 students, 38 are living in the boys’ hostel of the film wing, two in the in girls’ hostel, and four in the hostel attached to the television wing.

Earlier, the administration had served a notice to the students to immediately call off the strike, failing which they will face strict action.

The students have been on strike since June 12 and have completely abandoned academic work in their protest against the appointment of .

Late on Wednesday, the police also booked students for harassing FTII employee Sanjay Chandekar after he filed a complaint.

Chandekar, who is attached to the radio department, had claimed he was gheraoed by students after he told them that the current strike was illegal.

Chandekar also sent a letter to the institute’s director Prashant Pathrabe.

Chandekar, along with a few other of the institute’s employees, have formed a ‘Save FTII’ forum to oppose the strike.