‘Shameless abuse of power’: Central university teachers’ body slams SAU for sacking professor

Condemning the recent termination of South Asian University (SAU) professor Snehashish Bhattacharya, the Federation of Central Universities Teachers’ Associations (FEDCUTA) found it “unfortunate” that the central universities are allegedly becoming autocracies. The central university teachers extended solidarity to their counterparts in other central universities facing such “vindictive” dismissals. The senior faculty member has been sacked after two years suspension and show-cause notice for supporting students protesting against the administration.

Expressing sympathy towards the four suspended SAU professors who were put on suspension including Bhattacharya, FEDCUTA noted that the teacher’s removal comes in the backdrop of his support to the protestors who were raising their voices for “genuine” issues such as cut in their monthly stipends, student representation in gender sensitisation and sexual harassment committees.

The teachers’ body highlighted that the SAU faculty members requested the university administration in favour of a negotiated settlement with the agitating students, and opposed the decision to deal with the issue through disciplinary measures like expulsion and rustication or by calling the police into the campus to disperse the protesters.

Delving further into the history, the central university teachers alleged harassment against the teachers in question, with the show-cause notices being the very first step of the tragic tale, “marked by wild charges and denial of due process, with the SAU administration being the accuser, judge, jury and executioner in the matter.”

'SAU's failure'

Even the Delhi High Court, FEDCUTA pointed out, quashed the expulsions of students stating that the “manner in which the SAU proceeded” “cannot be regarded as partaking of "good faith" as understood in law”.

The administration did not hesitate to call the Delhi Police into the campus, yet it “shamelessly” sought protection from judicial review of its “abuse of power” by claiming to be outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts given its distinctive status, the association remarked.

While the SAU faculty members were only doing their duties, supporting the idea of a university being a democratic space that values open dialogue, discussion, and participation from everyone, rather than strict control of authority, Bhattacharya has been removed from his position for this very reason as well as for being unapologetic about it, FEDCUTA claimed.

Referring to another faculty member Irfanullah Farooqi, who lost his job as the administration refused to regularise his contract and extend his contract, the teachers lamented that these incidents are happening in a university “which is supposed to reflect the collective aspirations for progress and advancement of a region that is home to a quarter of the world’s population.” This shows the depth of SAU’s failure in living up to its responsibilities, it added.

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“The SAU Administration’s commitment to the broad vision of the University has been shown to be limited to invoking the multi-national or regional identity of the University as cover for what is a narrow minded and vindictive exercise of power,” FEDCUTA further charged.

The central university teachers went on to point out similar outcomes of the “disease”, including removal of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) teacher, Mahatma Gandhi Central University (MGCU)’s order banning meeting, assembly, or event by faculty members, staff, and students in the premises without prior approval from the director or chief proctor.

“It is an unfortunate fact that the SAU decision to remove a faculty member reflects a malaise that has gripped the University system as a whole, wherein Universities are being converted into autocracies to be run on the whims and fancies of their administrative heads and “law and order” only means no one is allowed to question them,” FEDCUTA further said.