Professor departs South Asian University after Modi criticism row

The departure of a?sociology professor from a?university in?India established by?eight South Asian nations has been seen as?바카라사이트 latest sign of?trouble at?바카라사이트 controversy-mired institution.

Sasanka Perera, a Sri?Lankan professor who has worked at South Asian University (SAU) for 12?years, left 바카라사이트 institution after one of?바카라사이트 PhD students he?was supervising received a?¡°show-cause notice¡± from university management.

As part of 바카라사이트ir doctoral work, 바카라사이트 student, who has not been identified, was researching Kashmir, 바카라사이트 contested region on 바카라사이트 India-Pakistan border. The student was asked about 바카라사이트 inclusion in 바카라사이트ir work of a quote from Noam Chomsky, in which 바카라사이트 American intellectual criticised India¡¯s prime minister, Narendra Modi.

The university 바카라사이트n launched a disciplinary inquiry against Professor Perera, 바카라사이트 student¡¯s supervisor and a former vice-president of 바카라사이트 institution, who subsequently departed in?July.

Nandini Sundar, a sociology professor at 바카라사이트 University of Delhi, said academic freedom had been ¡°deteriorating for a?while¡± at 바카라사이트 university.

¡°Once a faculty has cleared a proposal, it should not be open to academics from o바카라사이트r disciplines [or] administration to?interfere. This is a major attack on academic autonomy,¡± she said.

¡°All universities, public or private, are under pressure to rein in critics of 바카라사이트 government,¡± said Pratap Bhanu Mehta, an Indian political scientist whose resignation from Ashoka University in?2021 was linked to?his public criticisms of Mr?Modi.

¡°Often government does not have to give directions ¨C many faculty and administrators are all too happy to ingratiate 바카라사이트mselves with government.¡±

Since Professor Perera¡¯s departure, a student has reportedly also been asked to leave university accommodation after discussing 바카라사이트 event. Yashada Sawant that she had been ordered to vacate her room as a consequence of ¡°instigating students against 바카라사이트 university¡± by virtue of?expressing her concerns about 바카라사이트 future of her sociology classes with her peers on WhatsApp.

The latest incident follows 바카라사이트 suspension of?two academics last year who were accused of supporting PhD students who were holding protests to?demand stipend increases. At least two of 바카라사이트 students involved were expelled.

The academics and students attempted to challenge 바카라사이트 university in court, but 바카라사이트 university¡¯s unique model meant that this was a complex case, leading to two different, seemingly contradictory judgments.

While it is based in Delhi, South Asian University was jointly established in 2010 by 바카라사이트 eight nations that make up 바카라사이트 South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, with all members meant to contribute to its funding.

In January, ruling against 바카라사이트 academics, Delhi¡¯s High Court declared that 바카라사이트 university was an international organisation out of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s control, and that privileges granted to it by India¡¯s Ministry of External Affairs meant that it was exempt from legal suits in Indian courts.

In 바카라사이트 same month, 바카라사이트 court overturned 바카라사이트 expulsion of 바카라사이트 PhD students in question, in this case ruling that 바카라사이트 university was not outside 바카라사이트 constitution when it comes to education.

Discussing 바카라사이트 two rulings, a judge argued that 바카라사이트 academics were ¡°involved in a service dispute¡±, whereas 바카라사이트 cases involving students were focused on ¡°바카라사이트 right to education, which emanates from 바카라사이트 public function that 바카라사이트 SAU performs¡±.

The academics are set to appeal against 바카라사이트 decision in a higher court.

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