Jamia Teachers Assc expels prof for writing to prez alleging

Jamia Teachers Association today terminated the membership of a professor for sending a representation to President Pranab Mukherjee, alleging irregularities in the varsity's functioning.
Obaid Siddiqui, a professor of Jamia's Mass Communication Centre, was suspended by the university yesterday over the issue.
Terming Siddiqui's representation as "anti-employee", Jamia Teachers Association, in an emergency meeting, passed a resolution to "terminate his primary membership of JTA and expel him for six years with immediate effect".
Jamia has around 900 teachers, of which over 800 are members of the teachers association.
The professor had sent a petition to the President, who is Visitor to the university, alleging financial and administrative irregularities in the varsity's functioning and objecting to the introduction of 5 per cent seats for wards of Jamia Millia Islamia employees despite the Delhi High Court having quashed a similar arrangement in 1997.

The professor, had earlier this week sought police protection alleging he has been threatened with dire consequences for sending the representation.
When contacted, Siddiqui said, "The office-bearers have no right to expel anybody from JTA. It is the General Body which takes such decisions. I am being targeted for raising my voice. Is it a crime to disagree with somebody? Does this mean there can't be any expression of dissent in the university?
Jamia authorities have been maintaining it was "improper" on Siddiqui's part to approach the President without articulating his concerns before the university authorities.