Bengaluru’s National Law School of India University (NLSIU) has postponed the screening of the documentary on Umar Khalid, ‘Prisoner Number 626710 Is Present’.
The documentary was made by Lalit Vachani. It was scheduled to be screened at the university on September 14. NLSIU’s End Society Committee (LawSoc) cited “logistical and security concerns” as the reason for postponing the screening.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had demanded on Saturday that the NLSIU management cancel the screening.
Umar Khalid, an accused in the Delhi riots case, is a former JNU student. He has been lodged in Tihar Jail since September 2020. Violence broke out in Delhi in February 2020, in which 53 people were killed.
Umar Khalid, an accused in the Delhi riots case, has been in jail for the past six years.
What are the rules for film/documentary screenings on campus?
Prior permission required: Written permission from the university administration is required for screenings or any such event.
Safety and order: While granting permission, campus security, peace and law and order are given priority.
Cancellation or postponement: The administration can stop or postpone a screening if there is a risk of controversy, tension or disruption to the academic environment.
Copyright rules: Any required copyright or public performance licence must be obtained to screen a film.
Academic purpose: Film screenings should be linked to the curriculum, legal or social issues, or an academic discussion.
