Kolkata: Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI) has extended campus restrictions till Dec 11, following an order issued on Oct 16. Academic activities in the Film and Electronic and Digital Media (EDM) wings will remain suspended, while hostels and other campus premises will continue to remain vacated. Mess services will also stay closed.The earlier order had suspended academic activities till Nov 13. Meanwhile, the contracts of two faculty members were discontinued on Thursday. Calls to SRFTI vice-chancellor Santosh Ajmera went unanswered.The order on suspension of academic activities mandates strict student compliance, warning of disciplinary or legal action under academic bye-laws for any violations, and instructs Institute officials, including deans, HODs, wardens, and the security officer, to monitor implementation. All other terms from the Oct 16 order remain unchanged.However, students have demanded an “immediate restoration of regular academic activities, the reopening of academic spaces and hostels, and a meaningful resolution to the ongoing crisis through dialogue with students.”Regarding the discontinuation of the contract of two faculty members, students alleged that it was related to their role in enabling cinematographer and director Ranjan Palit to enter the campus and conduct the workshop on Wednesday.“The timing and selective nature of these decisions raise serious concerns about possible retaliation against those who have stood in solidarity with students and supported their cause. Is the administration now using employment and institutional authority as tools to penalise people for standing with students?” they asked.The faculty, who has been issued a show-cause notice, has been given three days to answer why he facilitated unauthorised entry.Students also alleged that “seven resource persons have been discontinued from their jobs.” However, requesting resource persons at SRFTI to not come is a common practice at the institute. “These resource people were asked not to come when the academic halt was announced in Oct. A resource person at SRFTI is taken on board depending on the requirements of any department. If there is no academic activity, he or she is always requested not to come in. They are paid on a daily basis. This practice requires no termination,” said a source.
