UP assistant professor alleges he was fired for joining Jantar Mantar protest

Commerce faculty member at a Bareilly college claims he was terminated a day after returning from the student protest in Delhi; college management cites repeated complaints and warns against political activities.

In Short

• Dr Mohit Bhardwaj said management cited protest videos before ending his services
• He said no show-cause notice or departmental inquiry preceded the decision
• The termination letter referred to repeated complaints, which Bhardwaj denied receiving

A 32-year-old assistant professor at a private college in Uttar Pradesh has alleged that he was dismissed from service after participating in the recent Jantar Mantar protest in Delhi.

Dr Mohit Bhardwaj, who taught Commerce at Ganna Utpadak PG College in Bareilly, claimed he was called to the principal's office and informed that his services had been terminated shortly after returning from the July 20 protest. According to Bhardwaj, media reports say, the management referred to videos of his participation in the demonstration before issuing the termination order.

The protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar was part of a wider agitation over alleged examination irregularities and paper leaks, with demonstrators demanding accountability and reforms in the examination system.

'ATTENDED PROTEST IN PERSONAL CAPACITY'

Bhardwaj has maintained that he attended the protest in his personal capacity to support students and denied any misconduct. He has questioned the legality of his dismissal, alleging that he was neither served a show-cause notice nor subjected to any departmental inquiry before the decision was taken. He has reportedly written to the district administration and the college management seeking copies of the complaints, inquiry records and the proceedings leading to his termination.

According to reports, the termination letter cited "repeated complaints" against him. However, Bhardwaj has disputed these allegations, claiming that he had received no prior complaints during his two-year tenure at the institution.

Responding to the controversy, the college management maintained that it would not permit political activities within the institution. The college director reportedly said that politics would not be tolerated on campus, while the principal indicated that the decision to terminate Bhardwaj's services was taken by the college management.

The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of participation in the ongoing Jantar Mantar protests. In recent days, Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University also issued advisories asking students and faculty to stay away from unauthorised demonstrations, warning of possible legal and disciplinary consequences.

- Ends