IITB Newsgroup Usage Policies
1. IIT Bombay News Groups have been set up by the Institute, under the
custody of the Computer Centre, to provide a convenient forum for exchange
of views and discussions.
2. Postings can be made on these newsgroups by any member of the campus
community who holds a valid LDAP account, and by alumni who have similar
login privileges.
3. These newsgroups are not moderated, in the sense that no one reads or
pre-censors postings. However, postings must follow reasonable norms in
terms of etiquette and legality. (Anything that would be considered
unacceptable in the print media will be considered unacceptable on the
newsgroups as well.)
4. Some examples of what is considered unacceptable are given below:
a. use of obscene language, as per prevailing community standards of
public discourse;
b. violation of IIT Bombay IT policy;
c. material considered treasonable or seditious;
d. material considered dangerous or illegal;
e. hate speech;
f. threats to individuals or groups.
5. Unacceptable use of newsgroups may result in punitive action of various
kinds, depending on the nature and gravity of the offence. Some examples
are given below:
a. suspension from newsgroup usage;
b. blocking of access to all IT services run by IIT Bombay;
c. filing of complaint with the Institute Disciplinary Action Committee
(DAC) or the Director;
d. filing of complaint with Police cybercell or the appropriate statutory
authority.
6. Unacceptable postings, including entire threads, may be deleted by the
Institute/CC. Normally, a reason for carrying out such activities will be
conveyed to the parties involved. However, the Institute being the
"service provider" for this service, reserves the unconditional right to
delete postings without giving any reason or prior intimation.
7. Action under items 5 and 6 above may be taken at the behest of a
complaint or suo moto by the Institute/CC. Please send your complaints to
help@cc.iitb.ac.in. It would normally be expected that an official
complaint is preceded by a similar complaint or protest on the relevant
thread on the newsgroup itself.
8. Postings on decisions taken by Institute/CC, on actions taken under
items 5 and 6 above, are not open to discussion or appeal. Minimum penalty
for violation of this condition will be suspension from the newsgroups.
9. The newsgroups are not an official announcement venue or bulletin board
of the Institute.
10. The newsgroups do not "guarantee" any unconditional freedom of speech.
However, within the parameters defined above, which are broadly based on
the restrictions that apply to other communication media as per prevailing
laws, they offer a reasonable forum for free and frank discussion.
11. Participation in the newsgroups is voluntary and all opinions
expressed there are those of individual users and not of, or supported by,
the Institute or CC.
12. Use of newsgroups by a user presumes that he/she is aware of this
policy. If, for whatever reason, a user does not want to be goverend by
this policy, he/she should not use the newsgroups.