Students of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will now have to sign undertakings on stamp papers, pledging ‘good behaviour’ during their stay at the institute.

The new code of conduct for students forbids them from “causing disruption in any manner in the functioning of the institute” and from violating the “status, dignity and honour of students belonging the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.”

During the turf war between former health minister Dr A Ramadoss and former AIIMS director P Venugopal and the anti-reservation agitation, functioning of the institute was affected by protests. There were also allegations of discrimination against Dalit students.

The code of conduct has been approved by the Academic Committee of the institute. The rules will be

reviewed every two years and vetted legally.

In a memo written on July 9, AIIMS director Dr R C Deka directed the dean and registrar of the institute to take written undertaking from students and parents vouching good behaviour. Each student in the batch of 2009, which will commence this month, will have to give the undertaking on Rs-10 stamp paper. Another undertaking will be taken from the parents, assuring that their ward will not indulge in anti-social behaviour.

If found violating the undertakings, students can be expelled, fined, debarred from taking examinations and results can be withheld. Students maintain that the institute had not consulted them before forming these guidelines.

When contacted, Deputy Director (Administration) Sailesh Yadav said, “We do not want any kind of disruptions, especially like the anti-quota agitation which made AIIMS the epicentre of the student movement. This is an institute and we are doing everything to ensure patients are not inconvenienced.”

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