The South Asian University has denied allegations that it crushed dissent on campus.

Apoorva Y.K., an expelled student on dharna outside the campus, had alleged an atmosphere of repression. Ammar Ahmad, a student rusticated in November 2022, developed psychiatric disorder and suffered cardiac arrest later. His brother Izan Ahmad said the university’s actions drove his brother to mental trauma and that SAU did not take care of the medical expenses.

The university saw protests last October over the Masters’ stipend and PhD support.

The Telegraph had written to the acting president of SAU, Ranjan Kumar Mohanty, asking about the allegations. In response, acting registrar Muhammad Abulaish wrote: “Academic institutions, including international universities established by law, may not lawfully provide any scope for indiscipline. SAU’s actions against students do not at all demonstrate repression and crushing of any form of dissent. It is so because of the evidence of indiscipline it has maintained and its intergovernmental Agreement, Rules, Regulations and Bye Laws, including the Headquarters Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the South Asian University.”

About Ammar, he wrote: “The university had not at all pushed the student to unimaginable suffering and severe illness.” The faculty and officials personally bore his “medical charges” before the health insurance company found his medical claim “inadmissible”, he said.

No “student of SAU is on indefinite strike” outside the campus and the university has “always been discussing any outstanding issue with the students,” he wrote.