HC notice to IIMA for teaching ban on faculty member

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court on Monday issued a notice to Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) after its faculty member challenged the premier institute’s decision preventing her from teaching for one year during her relocation period.
Assistant professor with IIMA, Neha Tripathi, approached the HC after she was informed that she would not be teaching during her one-year relocation period after completion of her probation.Her counsel submitted in court that Tripathi had joined IIMA in 2021 to teach the subject of psychology. In April, she was asked to apply for job confirmation and she did so accordingly.
The lawyer submitted that the faculty member has more than satisfactory performance in all four criteria – teaching, research, publication and cultural activities.
The course she has designed is being taught to students at the institute. He argued that had her performance been below par, her courses would not have been accepted at all, and added that she had an issue with the institute director, but that was resolved.
The petitioner’s counsel read out part of IIMA’s June 18 communication to Tripathi and took an exception to the arrangement for her relocation, “With a view to facilitate your relocation, the institute will have you on its rolls until July 2025 and during this period you will not teach in any of the institute’s programme.” He said that Tripathi can conduct research, can publish and engage herself in other activities but she is not allowed to teach.
“This is more offending. If I show this to anyone, I will not get a job anywhere,” he submitted.
After the preliminary hearing, Justice Aniruddha Mayee issued notice to the institute seeking its reply by July 22. The lawyer insisted on hearing before July 25, when the faculty member’s probation period ends.