AUD Faculty Termination Protest: SFI and AISA Demand Democratic Reforms
Introduction
Students and faculty of Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD) have raised concerns over the termination of two senior professors, Salil Mishra and Asmita Kabra. A demonstration was organised by the Ambedkar University Delhi Faculty Association (AUDFA) under the Bodhi tree at AUD's Kashmere Gate Campus.
The termination of the two professors is considered by the association to be the culmination of several restrictive policies, including financial penalties, punitive transfers, and a lack of grievance mechanisms that have created a tense environment for faculty and students.
“The speakers addressing the gathering made it clear that the current administration has, since its inception, been busy targeting individual faculty members, which has led to scores of litigations between Ambedkar University and its employees. This could soon lead to a situation where most employees are left with no option other than approaching courts, against the unfair punitive action inflicted on them”, said AUDFA.
The Students’ Federation of India joined the protests showing unity with the faculty. A large-scale protest was organised by SFI on 11 November, with more than 200 students marching from the canteen area to the vice chancellor’s office.
The SFI said, “SFI stressed about how the vicious attack by the AUD administration is in line with the national crackdown by the university administration on students everywhere. While in the past AUDFA has protested against the lack of a functional Internal Complaints Committee to fight against gender and caste harassment of the teachers, the university is today conveniently wielding the institutional tools to paint Prof. Kabra and Prof. Misra for misconduct which has no grounds.”
Calls for Non-Cooperation
“AUDFA has indicated that this time the teaching community is prepared to fight the administration to reverse this latest vindictive targeting of faculty and will soon declare their future course of action. There is a call for non-cooperation with the university administration on the 12th of November, Tuesday”, said AUDFA.
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