The Centre has withdrawn a controversial order that required scientists and researchers participating in online, international scientific seminars and conferences to get prior clearance from the ministry of external affairs (MEA).
“In view of the easing of restrictions on travel and assembly of people, guidelines issued regarding political clearance for international conferences/seminars/training etc due to COVID-19 pandemic are no longer applicable. All such events will however continue to be governed by the same rules and regulations applicable to political clearances prior to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said an order issued by the ministry of external affairs late on Wednesday.
The rules are available on the website of the ministry of home affairs governing conferences, the MEA note says.
It applied to a wide ambit of topics that included “...security of the Indian state, border, North East States, J&K, or any other issues which are clearly/purely related to India’s internal matters”.
The previous order was issued by the ministry of education on January 31, based on the guidelines originally issued by the MEA on November 25.
The order requiring permission to hold webinars with international participation had triggered both concern and opposition in academic circles. Critics of the order said it would cause delays in organising events. According to scientists, the guidelines were too broad and vague and would have made it impossible for many to participate in online conferences without contravening the law.
The Indian Express reported, "While today’s notification suggests that the November 25 order was prompted because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and cites the 'easing of restrictions on travel and assembly of people' as the reason for withdrawing it, the original order had made no mention of the epidemic."
Two science academies, representing more than 1,500 scientists and academics, had written to the education minister "saying such a directive would make it difficult to conduct any open scientific discussion. It had said that the order would 'constrain the progress of science in India'”.
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The Indian Academy of Sciences and the Indian National Academy of Sciences wrote to Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal recently, seeking withdrawal of the restrictions saying the rules could halt all scientific discussion.
(With inputs from onmanorama, PTI)
