AUD Faculty Termination: AUDFA, SFI, AISA protest against 'Unjust' actions; demands democratic reforms

NEW DELHI: Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD), faculty and students have voiced outrage over the termination of two senior professors, Salil Mishra and Asmita Kabra, by university administration. The Ambedkar University Delhi Faculty Association (AUDFA) organized a demonstration under the Bodhi tree on AUD’s Kashmere Gate campus, citing the administration's actions as “draconian” and part of a broader pattern of punitive measures.

The termination of Mishra and Kabra is seen by the association as a culmination of several restrictive policies, including financial penalties, punitive transfers, and a lack of grievance mechanisms that have created a stressful atmosphere for faculty and students.

Ambedkar University Professors Termination: SFI joins faculty protest

The student community, represented by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), joined the protests, expressing solidarity with the faculty’s demands. On November 11, SFI organized a large-scale protest, with over 200 students marching from the university canteen area to the vice chancellor’s office, demanding an official response to the terminations.

The AUDFA statement read, “The speakers addressing the gathering made it clear that the current administration has since its inception been busy targeting individual faculty members which have led to scores of litigations between the 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.”

Lack of a functional internal complaints committee

SFI criticized the AUD administration’s actions, stating that the university has failed to establish adequate mechanisms to address gender and caste-based harassment. TAccording to SFI, this failure has led to the unjust framing of Kabra and Mishra as being involved in misconduct.

“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,” the SFI statement read.

Also read 'Unjustified': Ambedkar University Delhi faculty demand revocation of professors' termination

Calls for non-cooperation with AUD administration

The AUDFA stated, “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.”

AISA criticizes AUD administration’s ‘Autocratic’ actions

All India Students’ Association (AISA) also organized a protest today at Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD) in opposition to the termination of Salil Mishra and Asmita Kabra. Students gathered on the Kashmere Gate campus, condemning what they called “autocratic” and “unjust” administrative actions that undermine academic freedom and worker rights.

AISA representatives, including secretary Saiyed and president Prerna, criticized the administration’s increasing control over faculty, mentioning that over 20 professors had previously resigned due to shrinking academic freedom. They also highlighted other issues like the lack of PhD scholarships and bureaucratic hurdles for researchers. Pritam, a PhD scholar, described the administration’s impact on academic freedom and intellectual independence, and Prerna emphasized the absence of student elections for over six years as an effort to silence opposition.

AUD Faculty Termination: Demands by AISA

AISA’s demands include the immediate reversal of the faculty terminations, an end to administrative harassment, regularization of non-teaching staff, and the restoration of democratic governance. The association pledged to continue resisting what it sees as an oppressive administrative agenda.

AUDFA has announced a call for non-cooperation with the university administration, effective November 12, while SFI has pledged continued support for faculty and students facing what it calls harassment from the administration