Gulbarga University faculty takes exception to syndicate restricting academic activities

In the syndicate meeting on December 20, 2024, Peer Jhad Fahimuddin, a member, objected to an event of special lectures by resource persons and experts from Delhi and other States organised by the Kannada Department on December 15, 2024 under the banner of the university without inviting any statuary officer, syndicate or Academic Council members.

Three senior teaching faculty members at Gulbarga University — H.T. Pote from the Kannada Department, Ramesh Rathod from the English Department, and Abdul Rub Ustad from the Urdu Department — have taken exception to a resolution of the syndicate that seemingly imposes restrictions on academic activities, especially special lecturers from renowned personalities from other universities.

In a media note released on January 3, the trio termed the resolution as ‘unfortunate’, ‘unscientific’ and ‘irrational’. They argued that such a restriction would deny the professors and researchers their right to think and present their viewpoint.

The decision was taken at the syndicate meeting on December 20, 2024, which was chaired by Vice-Chancellor Dayanand Agsar and attended by 11 others, including a special invitee,

In the meeting, Peer Jhad Fahimuddin, a member, objected to an event of special lectures by resource persons and experts from Delhi and other States organised by the Kannada Department on December 15, 2024 under the banner of the university without inviting any statuary officer, syndicate or Academic Council members. The meeting discussed the matter and resolved to ‘issue a circular directing the university departments and branches to obtain prior administrative approval for conducting any such event’.

“Khwaja Mohammad Ikramuddin, a professor from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, visited the Urdu Department of Gulbarga University on December 15, 2024. At the Kannada Department, we also organised a special lecture from him to benefit the students. We took no financial aid from the university for the event. University departments are free to hold such events. Unable to digest the event’s success, syndicate member Fahimuddin took objection to it,” says a statement by the trio.

They expressed their discontentment towards other members of the syndicate who supported the resolution moved by Mr. Fahimuddin, a retired lecturer in a college.

“It is not just an unscientific and irrational resolution, but also an unconstitutional stand. It is an insult to the teaching profession. It amounts to infringement of rights of teachers and teaching departments,” they stated.