Pratap Bhanu Mehta’s ‘direct result of his role as a criticism of the government’: Ashok University faculty wrote to VC, board officials

The faculty of Ashoka University on Thursday released a statement in solidarity with Pratap Bhanu Mehta, stating that the teachers were “greatly disturbed” by his exit, possibly as “a public intellectual and critic of the government” The direct result of his role was “.

Mehta’s exit, the statement said, set a “chilling precedent for future expulsion of faculty”. Teachers have demanded that Ashok should ask Mehta to resign and “clarify his internal protocol of faculty appointment and dismissal, and reinforce his institutional commitment to the principles of academic freedom”. “In light of the media reports that aired before Professor Mehta’s official announcement to leave the university, It is laudable that his resignation was a direct result of his role as a public intellectual and critic of the government.

We are very upset with this scenario, ”the statement read. It added, “Even more disturbing is the possibility that our university may have pressured or requested to remove Professor Mehta and accept his resignation. It will fly against the principles of academic freedom on which the Ashoka University is founded – and what Professor Mehta has done in his time as Vice Chancellor and University Professor, Has thus struggled to defend. Eminent economist Arvind Subramanian resigned from the post of professor citing the circumstances after Mehta left the institute. “I am well aware of the broader context in which Ashoka and his trustees have to work, and have so far praised the university for conducting it well.

But someone of such integrity and superiority, who embodied Ashoka’s vision, felt it was disturbing to leave him. Also that Ashoka – with his personal status and support by private capital – can no longer give room for academic expression and freedom is troubling a lot, Subramanian wrote in his resignation letter addressed to the Chancellor Malabika Sarkar. The Indian Express first reported the news of Mehta’s exit from Ashoka University on 17 March. Mehta, who is also the editor, The Indian Express, consistently questioned the ruling establishment in its writing and public appearances. He is considered one of the country’s leading scholars on politics and political theory, constitutional law, governance and political economy.

On Tuesday, when asked by The Indian Express whether their criticism of the government had anything to do with their exit, the university brushed aside this question. . Considered one of the country’s leading scholars on governance and political economy. On Tuesday, when asked by The Indian Express whether their criticism of the government had anything to do with their exit, the university brushed aside this question. . Considered one of the country’s leading scholars on governance and political economy. On Tuesday, when asked by The Indian Express whether their criticism of the government had anything to do with their exit, the university brushed aside this question. .