The Tamil Nadu government has withdrawn an order that sought to stop students and young people from joining protests organised by Left parties and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
The order was issued on August 14 to the school and higher education departments. It asked officials to take coordinated steps to discourage students from participating in political protests. Schools and colleges were also told to submit action-taken reports by August 20.
The directive triggered strong criticism from the CJP and Left groups. They questioned the government’s decision and called it an unreasonable restriction on student participation in protests.
The government withdrew the order on August 19 after facing political opposition and public criticism.
The controversy comes amid growing student movements across India. Recent protests have focused on examination issues, recruitment irregularities and problems in educational institutions.
The CJP-led protests in Delhi had also attracted widespread attention. The movement later spread to other states, with young people raising concerns about education and recruitment.
The Tamil Nadu government’s U-turn has now sparked fresh discussions about students’ right to protest and the role of governments in regulating political activities on campuses.