The South Asian University (SAU) has terminated the services of a faculty member in the department of economics. Snehashish Bhattacharya was suspended for more than two years in connection with the 2022 student protests over stipend cuts.

The termination order of Sept 11, cites the recommendations of a disciplinary committee and makes it effective from June 16, 2023, the date of his suspension.

Students launched protests between Sept and Dec, 2022, against the downward revision of monthly stipends and for representation in gender sensitisation and sexual harassment committees. On Oct 13, that year, police was called into campus to disperse demonstrators, and on Nov 4, five students faced suspension.

Several faculty members wrote to the administration opposing the use of police and called the action against students “arbitrary”. Four professors, including Bhattacharya, were served showcause notices accusing them of inciting students and running a Marxist study circle. They denied all the allegations.

On June 16, 2023, all four were suspended. While three were reinstated in March last year, after submitting written apology, Bhattacharya remained suspended. The disciplinary committee said that 25 charges against him were “proved,” a conclusion he contested as unsubstantiated. He was issued a showcause notice for termination in Aug this year, followed by Wednesday’s order.

Bhattacharya declined to comment on the development. SAU’s president KK Aggarwal and media coordinator did not respond. Several of the professor’s former students from SAARC countries have expressed concern over the action, calling it a targeted attempt to stifle dissent.