Pune: Director D J Narian of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) yesterday served a notice to the striking students, asking them to terminate the protest immediately or face “strong” administrative action which may include “rustication”. The protest against the appointment of appointment of Gajendra Chouhan as its Chairman has been going on for 34 days. This is the first warning to the students in the ongoing tussle between the central government and the students.

The notice was addressed to the students’ leader Harishankar Nachimuthu.

“All concerned students will themselves be responsible for any administrative action in this regard.You are therefore ordered to terminate the strike with immediate effect and resume academic activities without any further delay, failing which the institution will be free to take strict administrative action,” the notice said.

A spokesman of the FTII Students’ Association (FSA), reacting to the notice, said, “we are in the process of deliberations and will decide future course of action”.

Today’s move by the FTII director came after the failed July 3 talks between the FSA delegation and Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on the contentious issue of appointment of Chauhan, a BJP member and actor, as Chairman of the Institute.

The agitating students have alleged that the actor, known for his role of Yudhishthir in mega TV serial Mahabharat, lacks “vision and stature” to head the FTII.

They also got support from several film celebrities though some have said that Chauhan should not be prejudged before he takes up his job.