Ashoka Implements New Security and Scanning Protocols at Entry Points During Summer Semester

On 15th July 2025, around 400 Ashoka University students on campus received an email from the Vice-President of Operations, Himanshu Sachdev, sharing new security protocols for entry and exit to the campus.

The email details that while students may enter or exit the campus through both gates 1 and 2, if a student is carrying any bag larger than a wallet or purse, they must enter through gate 2 after getting said baggage scanned. The email states that “This move is aimed at enhancing the safety of everyone on campus,” with the implementation of these measures beginning on July 17th.

Screenshot from email correspondence

This is a departure from the previous security policy implemented in the Spring semester of 2025, under which only large bags such as suitcases and duffle bags were to be passed through scanners at gate two, while backpacks or handbags could move freely through both gates.

The Edict spoke with Dheeraj Sanghi, Ashoka University’s new Dean of Student Affairs (DSA), who mentioned that the summer rollout of the measure is to test and ensure that there are “no glitches” before full implementation in the Monsoon semester, where bag scanners will potentially also be installed at gate 1. He also shared that this decision was made before his tenure by the standing committee formed after last year’s anti-surveillance protests, aimed to address security concerns and substance use on campus.  

The previous security measures were implemented as a result of student body protests in the Spring semester in response to the administration implementing mandatory scanning of all baggage without student body consultation. 

Similar to the announcement last semester, the administration has chosen to inform students of this policy change via e-mail, although curiously, communication of the changes so far  has only been received by students currently on campus for the summer semester or other summer programs. 

The Edict spoke with students and members of the Ashoka University Student Government (AUSG), who continue to share their general discontentment with scanners as a method to curb substance abuse, echoing the same fears from the security protocols implemented in the spring semester. 

*Ambika Jain (UG’28) expressed concern that while the measures may reduce the presence of substances on campus, they won’t curb student consumption; “they’re just going to go outside.” She also spoke about harassment of women outside campus, stating, “they’re just making the issue worse.” 

The AUSG expressed the same concerns to Ashoka’s administration and the standing committee responsible for the new policy. Insha Husain (UG’26), AUSG President, stated that scanners increase the risk of people consuming substances outside campus, and the risk of people consuming different, maybe stronger substances that cannot be tracked by scanners.

Atharva Salve (UG’27), Student Representative of the Student Grievance Redressal Committee (SGRC), spoke about how “even though the student government is composed of elected individuals voted by the majority, their demands are constantly rejected, leaving us in a helpless state where even our elected representatives are not heard.”

Despite the move to include student representation in the standing committee on security measures, Husain mentioned that “this committee and everything that has happened since the initial negotiation to remove the scanners has not been in good faith or in sincerity from the administration.”

*Radhika Goyal (UG’28) mentioned that most of the Ashoka student body does not have a problem with scanning. “It’s the issue that we are never consulted, even though it was said that the standing committee would take student input at every step of the way.” 

Jain also called back to the petition against the baggage scanner(s) implementation, which was shared over email in the Spring ‘25 semester and garnered over 1,200 signatures, saying, "How does the admin ignore these many signatures from faculty, students, and TFs?"

*Pseudonyms have been used to protect the identity of the individual.

(Edited by Tanisha Pandey and Tanush Guha)