In a letter addressed to DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh on April 15, Jha wrote, “I fail to understand what made the university forgo the principle of institutional autonomy and invite intervention of an outside agency, in this case the Union government, in a matter of granting leave.”In a written response to the registrar’s office, the professor noted that there is no rule requiring a government clearance for faculty travel or leave.”You said you were not aware of any specific rule under which the permission of the ministry is required. From our conversation, I concluded that the university is proactively, without any required law, rule or regulation, sending my leave application to the ministry,” Jha wrote in his response.”You kindly suggested that I should share my talk to be given at the India China Institute of the New School, which could be attached with the file to make it easy for the ministry to take a decision. Does it mean that the content of my talk would now be vetted before permission for participation in an academic event be given?” he asked.The Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), in a letter, condemned the university’s action as “arbitrary” and “an attack on academic freedom.”The teachers’ body described the demand for speech vetting as “an act of censorship” and accused the administration of harming the institution’s autonomy.It added that denying permission for such academic engagements damages the university’s global reputation and reflects a deeper erosion of institutional integrity.Jha also took to social media to express his concern, posting on X: “Delhi Univ adm wants to vet and approve the text of my talk for the India China Institute, New School (New York) event and seek the advice of the government to decide about granting me leave.
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