Aditya Narayan Misra said, the decision of CPDHE is arbitrary and autocractic

New Delhi. The joint candidate of the  Alliance Aditya Narayan Misra,  Former DUTA and FEDCUTA President says " The decision of CPDHE is arbitrary and autocractic, and reflects the fast shrinking space for academic freedom and debates and discussion. We strongly opposes this decision which is also a serious attack on the dignity and freedom of expression of a teacher. Besides being a vocal and active parliamentarian, Prof Jha is a former Head of Department and Professor of Social Work."

The undignified manner in which the CPDHE (Centre for Professional Development in Higher Education) of University of Delhi cancelled the invite to Prof. Manoj Jha, Depatment of Social Work, University of Delhi, to be a resource person to address and engage in a discussion with teachers on “Political Social Work: New Opportunity for Practice” for a Course on Social Work and Social Sciences is not merely a disrespect for him or a complete disregard for the academia. It is one more instance of institutionalization of an intolerant and bigoted culture in the University of Delhi.  Such institutionalization that allows the Director of CPDHE to excessively pack Orientation/ Refresher/ Development programmes for teachers with resource persons and Chief Guests holding the ideological views of the ruling dispensation while excluding all contrarian views. 

Typically, such exclusion is carried out by leaving out persons with contrarian views. It appears that Prof. Manoj Jha got invited due to oversight by the vigilante since he is known for his criticism of the ideological position of the ruling dispensation both as an academic and political social worker. It is a disgrace for an eminent institution and strikes at the very idea of a University.

The Democratic United Teachers' Alliance (D.U.T.A.) condemns this autocratic and arbitrary cancellation of Prof. Manoj Jha's lecture which is a proof of the fast shrinking space for academic freedom and debates and discussion. Besides being a vocal and active parliamentarian, Prof Jha is a former Head of Department and Professor of Social Work. Not allowing to speak him to his fellow colleagues is an expression of debasing of institutional and academic decision making.