Despite stern warning from administration regarding ongoing protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), a section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) students, resident doctors, and faculty members held a candlelight march at the institute’s premises on Thursday.

Defying warning that those observing protest would face disciplinary action, students went ahead and held a candlelight march from the JLN auditorium till gate no 1 of AIIMS. They were opposing the “state-sponsored violence” against protesters and demanding a rollback of the CAA.

The demonstrators held placards, sand ‘Sare Jahan se Accha’, and read out the Preamble to the Constitution, a protester said.

Earlier, AIIMS administration on Thursday issued a memorandum, debarring students to observe any kind of protest at AIIMS. Disciplinary actions would be taken to those who defy the order, memorandum stated.

Citing a May 20, 2002, Delhi high court order, memorandum issued by the Registrar of AIIMS listed out a code of conduct applicable to all students, staff, nurses and faculty members of the institute.

“Violation of the orders of the High Court of Delhi by any individual employee group of employees/students//resident doctors/associations/Unions etc will be in contravention of the directions of the High court and make them liable for disciplinary action and also for contempt of court.

“Hence it is advised that everyone should refrain from holding any dharna/protest\\/ strike within the premises of AIIMS. All chief of centres/ head of departments are requested to make bring it to the notice of students, residents, staff and faculty of the departments centres and offices,” the memorandum stated.

What is CAB?

The Citizen Amendment Bill provides permanent citizenship to illegal migrants of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

According to the CAB, members of the Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zoroastrian communities who have come from above mentioned countries till December 31, 2014 and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship. It also relaxes the provisions for “Citizenship by naturalisation”.

The law reduces duration of residency from existing 11 years to just five years for people belonging to the same six religions and three countries.

Opposition parties including Congress are stating that providing citizenship on the basis of religion is a violation of article 14 a right to equality enshrined in the Indian constitution.

After the Bill was passed in both houses, there has been a widespread protests witnessed from different parts of the country, including the national capital. The protest erupted initially in North-east states and its soon engulfed the whole country largely. Violence has been reported from Lucknow, Bangaluru, and Delhi. In national capital police has taken crackdown measures including imposing of section 144, closing of entry/exits at 14 metro stations, and issuing high alert in some areas.

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