The Board of Trustees of Ashoka University on Monday announced that it would appoint an ombudsperson by the end of May to encourage “freedo...
The Board of Trustees of Ashoka University on Monday announced that it would appoint an ombudsperson by the end of May to encourage “freedom of expression”, PTI reported. The statement came after the university faced severe backlash following the resignations of political scientist Pratap Bhanu Mehta and economist Arvind Subramanian.
“Our aim is that through this and already existing processes we will be able to ensure that Ashoka lives up to its vision of being a space for free enquiry, free expression, intellectual honesty, respect for the dignity of all human beings and openness to constructive change,” the Board of Trustees said in a statement.
The statement added that it was important to establish some processes to maintain the separation of academic functioning from founders, and that many of these were already in place in the form of the academic council or the board of management.
But these need to be strengthened through more intensive consultations within the faculty, it said. “With this in mind the Founders are supportive of the appointment of the Ombudsperson (as had been decided earlier) by 31st May 2021,” the statement added. “The Chancellor and Vice Chancellor will propose candidates for this position for approval by the Governing Body.”
The statement added:
“Liberty which includes the right to...
