TISS Hyderabad issues notice to Professor over student protest video
- Dr. Arjun Sengupta, an Assistant Professor at TISS Hyderabad, received a show cause notice for participating in a student protest regarding staff terminations.
- The protest was in response to the potential firing of over 100 contractual employees due to financial issues, sparking concerns among students and faculty.
- Sengupta's actions have drawn support from the TISS Teachers' Association, highlighting growing tensions between the administration and the university community.
In response to ongoing financial concerns at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Hyderabad, Dr. Arjun Sengupta was issued a show cause notice on October 4, 2024, for his participation in a student protest. This protest was organized by student groups in opposition to the anticipated termination of over 100 contractual teaching and non-teaching staff, which students feared would occur due to a financial crunch. The administration's withdrawal of a termination letter issued earlier did little to alleviate apprehensions about job security. Students have expressed frustration over the lack of clarity surrounding the future of their supervisors, particularly concerning dissertation guidance, while claims of illegal protests persist. Officials from TISS assert that those involved are creating unnecessary discord and tension within the institution, labeling some of the protesting actions as unfounded. This indicates a deeper conflict between the administration's policies and the students' rights to voice their concerns. In his defense, Dr. Sengupta challenged the notice, arguing that the allegation of inciting unrest was unfounded. He criticized the administration for not providing the evidence against him in a timely manner and emphasized the peaceful nature of their protests, which were aimed at raising awareness of serious issues at TISS. Support for Sengupta is growing, with the TISS Teachers' Association publicly backing him, claiming that the clip of his speech was misrepresented. This situation sheds light on the turbulent atmosphere at TISS, illustrating a clash between the demand for organizational transparency and the institutional response to dissent.