Won't take UGC 'retirement' to court: Yogendra Yadav

Political scientist Yogendra Yadav Saturday said he would not challenge his "retirement" from the University Grants Commission (UGC) in court and was happy to be relieved of responsibilities.

In a letter to Human Resource Development Minister M.M. Pallam Raju, he said: "I know your government has made all preparations for fighting a legal battle. Many of my friends and well-wishers have urged me to approach the court, if only to ensure that this case does not become a bad precedent that robs autonomous institutions of their remaining autonomy".

Yadav was retired from UGC after the ministry rejected his reply to the show-cause notice issued to him. He was removed for his association with the Aam Aadmi Party.

He said in the letter that he suspected that the government would like the "moral and political" debate of his removal to be reduced to a courtroom battle over someone's reinstatement.

"I would like this to remain above all, a debate about institutional norms and public good. I would like this to be a political debate in the highest sense of the term," he said.

"So, I'm afraid I am going to disappoint you. I am happy to be relieved and am truly relieved. Therefore, I do not plan to seek any more relief from any court of law," he said.