Academics from leading universities call Dr. Snehashish Bhattacharya’s termination “unjust and punitive”; warn of a growing crisis of academic freedom at SAU, New Delhi

Groundxero | Nov 3, 2025 

More than 300 scholars from leading universities and research institutions worldwide have appealed to the Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to intervene in what they describe as the “unjust and punitive dismissal” of Dr. Snehashish Bhattacharya, Associate Professor of Economics at the South Asian University (SAU), New Delhi.

In a letter addressed to SAARC Secretary-General Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar, the signatories — a diverse group of globally renowned academics — expressed “deep concern over the violation of academic freedom and due process” at SAU, an institution established under the aegis of SAARC to promote regional cooperation through higher education.

They urged the Secretary-General to call upon SAU to revoke Dr. Bhattacharya’s termination, protect academic freedom, and uphold the university’s founding principles of dialogue, collegiality, and intellectual independence.

The South Asian University (SAU) was established in 2010 in New Delhi as a joint initiative of SAARC member countries, under an intergovernmental charter ratified by national parliaments. Its stated mission is to “impart liberal and humane education” and foster cooperation across South Asia in the fields of science, technology, and social sciences.

However, over the past three years, SAU has faced a series of crises involving student protests, allegations of administrative overreach, and erosion of internal democracy, leading to international concern about its governance and commitment to academic freedom.

Dr. Bhattacharya was terminated on September 11, 2025, with retrospective effect from June 2023, effectively penalising him for raising “principled concerns” about the university administration’s handling of peaceful student protests in 2022.

Chronological Summary of Events at SAU since September 2022

• During September-December 2022, there were widespread student protests in South Asian University (SAU) against downward revision of monthly stipends and demanding student representation in committees on gender sensitisation and sexual harassment.

• On October 13, 2022, the University administration called in police to disperse protesting students, and on November 4, 2022, issued office orders announcing expulsion, rustication, or suspension of 5 students.

• On October 14, 2022, 13 faculty members wrote to the University administration (marking a copy to the University community) against the act of calling police into the campus to disperse protesting students or to resolve internal issues.

• On November 5, 2022, 15 faculty members wrote to the University administration (marking a copy to the University community) expressing deep concerns about the illegal and arbitrary expulsion, rustication, or suspension of students without following any due process and in contravention of SAU regulations. They requested the administration to begin a process of dialogue to de-escalate and resolve the situation.

• On December 30, 2022, the University administration served show cause notices to five faculty members — including Dr. Snehashish Bhattacharya. The charges against them were almost identical: writing letters to the University community making wild and unsubstantiated allegations against the University administration; inciting students to act against the interests of the University; association with a Marxist study circle; etc. These four faculty members individually responded to the notice on January 16, 2023, denying all the charges.

• On March 29, 2023, the University set up a Fact Finding Committee (FFC) to consider the responses submitted by the four faculty members.

• On June 16, 2023, the University administration issued office orders placing the four faculty members including Dr. Snehashish Bhattacharya — under suspension with immediate effect.

• In September, 2023, the suspended faculty members were served charge sheets consisting 52 charges against Dr. Snehashish Bhattacharya. They provided detailed written responses to the charges, categorically denying each and every charge.

• Between June 16 and September 15, 2023, the suspended faculty members were paid 50 percent of their salary, which was subsequently reduced to 25 percent without any explanation or statutory provision.

• A Single Bench of the Delhi High Court delivered a judgment on January 23, 2024, which held that the High Court does not have jurisdiction over SAU in this case, and hence the case is not maintainable. Therefore, the Court decided not to deal with the substantive merits of the case and dismissed the petition. This decision was however contrary to the views taken by another Single Bench of the High Court in the case of the expelled students, which held that the High Court has jurisdiction over SAU, i.e., the cases are maintainable, and SAU does not enjoy immunity from legal action in these cases. Based on the merits of the cases, the bench quashed and set aside the expulsion orders served to the students by SAU.

• On February 6, 2024, the four faculty members met the SAU President. They were told that the three regularized faculty members — Dr. Snehashish Bhattacharya, Dr. Srinivas Burra, and Dr. Ravi Kumar — may have their suspension revoked and may be reinstated in service only under the following conditions: (i) they submit a letter expressing regret or apology for their actions, which will be kept in their service records; and (ii) they decide not to pursue their legal case in the courts any further. They were also told that Dr. Irfanullah Farooqi will not be reinstated, nor will his application for regularization and promotion be considered (even though his situation was tied to the issue of suspension).

• Dr. Snehashish Bhattacharya and Dr. Irfanullah Farooqi decided not to write regret or apology letters. They wrote to the President on February 16, 2024, stating that their actions were based on principled positions and were done with bona fide intentions to safeguard the interests of the University without violating any of its statutory provisions.

• The suspensions of the other two faculty members were revoked by the University on March 11, 2024, after they tendred an regret letter.

• On August 18, 2025, Dr. Snehashish Bhattacharya was served a show cause notice for termination by the University “in view of the findings of the Disciplinary Committee”.

• Dr. Snehashish Bhattacharya filed an urgent application in the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court, urging an early hearing of his pending appeal in view of the show cause notice for termination served to him by SAU. On September 2, 2025, the Division Bench agreed to an early hearing and listed the matter for September 16, 2025.

• On September 11, 2025, SAU served Dr. Snehashish Bhattacharya a notice of termination of his services at SAU, with effect from June 16, 2023, i.e., from the date of his suspension.

• The matter is currently before the Chief Justice’s Division Bench in the Delhi High Court, with the next hearing scheduled for November 18, 2025.

The scholars noted in the letter that SAU faculty members, including Dr. Bhattacharya, had urged restraint and dialogue with the protesting students — but rather than engage in dialogue, the SAU administration resorted to student expulsions, suspensions, and police action, and in June 2023, four faculty members were also suspended. “The administration has distorted Dr. Bhattacharya’s record and punished his integrity,” the letter says. “This is not merely a case of one individual but a test of whether the South Asian University can still stand by the principles on which it was founded,” the letter by the scholars added.

The university administration justified the dismissal by accusing Dr. Bhattacharya of “incitement against the University.” The signatories reject this claim as unfounded and retaliatory. They have also raised alarm over SAU’s assertion in the court that it lies outside Indian court jurisdiction, despite being created by The South Asian University Act (2008), enacted by the Indian Parliament. The signatories argue that this claim of extra-territorial immunity “undermines the rule of law and erodes accountability” at an institution operating within Indian territory.

Reaffirming SAU’s founding vision of liberal and humane education, the appeal warns that the developments have created a climate of fear among faculty and students. “Dr. Bhattacharya’s commitment to fairness and dialogue embodies the values SAU was meant to uphold,” the scholars write. “His dismissal threatens the credibility of the institution as a regional centre of excellence,” they said.

The letter further notes that SAU, envisioned as a collaborative initiative of South Asian nations, has in recent years witnessed faculty exits, censorship attempts, and suppression of dissent, eroding its status as a space for intellectual freedom and regional cooperation.

The scholars’ letter calls on SAARC Secretary-General Ambassador Sarwar to exercise his office’s moral and institutional authority to ensure justice and transparency at SAU. Specifically, they urge him to:

• Rescind Dr. Bhattacharya’s termination and reinstate him immediately;
• Ensure procedural fairness and due process in all disciplinary actions; and
• Safeguard academic freedom and institutional autonomy, essential to SAU’s credibility as a regional centre of learning.

Pointing out that SAU was established to promote regional cooperation and liberal education, the scholars wrote, “To allow the persecution of a principled academic undermines that very purpose.”

The appeal, endorsed by 305 academics, includes signatories from universities such as Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Columbia, SOAS, JNU, Delhi University, and Dhaka University.

A separate letter of protest signed by 101 of Dr. Bhattacharya’s former students was also submitted earlier, affirming his reputation for integrity and mentorship.

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Full text of the scholars’ appeal and list of signatories are available in the attached document.

Press Note – Letter to SAARC Secretary-General on SAU