Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu has reportedly issued notices to students who missed a mandatory Deepak Lighting Ceremony held on September 17 to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 76th birthday. The notice, shared by Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain, warned students of a Rs 500 fine if they failed to provide a written explanation for their absence by Friday, September 19. The event was described as compulsory, with exemptions only allowed for medical reasons, requiring an official note from Sanjeevni, a central government-run telemedicine service.

Hussain, who is also the Congress party’s in-charge in Jammu and Kashmir, condemned the move, stating that educational institutions should not be used as platforms for political publicity. He questioned whether the event was an academic responsibility or a BJP-led publicity stunt. "BJP’s publicity stunts should be kept out of our premier educational institutions," he said in a post on X. The Congress leader shared a screenshot of the notice, which stated that students marked absent would be required to submit a written explanation by 11:59 pm on Friday. Failure to do so would result in the fine.

IIM Jammu authorities have not yet responded to the allegations that notices were issued to students who missed the event. The institute’s official stance remains unclear. The notice also specified that exemptions would only be considered on medical grounds, with an official written note from Sanjeevni required to support such claims. The event, described as a "Deepak Lighting Ceremony," was held on the campus to commemorate PM Modi’s birthday, though the exact nature of the ceremony and its purpose remain unspecified in the available evidence.

The Congress has publicly criticised the institute for what it describes as an overreach into academic affairs. The party’s criticism highlights concerns about the role of political figures in campus activities and the potential impact on student autonomy. However, no official statement from IIM Jammu has been released to clarify the situation. The institute’s decision to impose a fine on absent students has sparked debate about the boundaries of institutional authority and the role of political events in academic settings.

The notice issued by IIM Jammu, as shared by Hussain, does not provide further details on the rationale for making the event mandatory. It also does not clarify whether the event was part of a broader institutional initiative or a one-off celebration. The absence of a formal response from the institute leaves many questions unanswered, including the extent of student participation, the nature of the ceremony, and the criteria for exemption from the fine. These gaps in information underscore the need for further clarification from IIM Jammu.

As of now, no official statement from the institute has been made available to confirm or deny the allegations. The Congress leader’s claims are based on a screenshot of the notice, which has not been independently verified by the institute. The situation remains under scrutiny, with calls for transparency and accountability from both the academic and political spheres. The incident raises broader questions about the intersection of politics and education, and the potential implications for student rights and institutional autonomy.