HC asks FLAME University to reply to plea challenging prof’s termination

Mukherjee was served a termination letter by the University on December 21 and filed the petition against this termination on February 13, 2025. Being argued by senior advocate Mihir Desai at the Bombay High Court, the petition has raised that a permanent employee cannot be terminated without an enquiry. It argues that even if a permanent employee can be terminated for an animal welfare activity like feeding dogs, there must be evidence with cross examination, and that the principles which are natural justice minimum in any establishment have been violated. The University will put forth its stand in an affidavit in response to the petition on May 7.

Jhuma Sen, one of the lawyers representing Mukherjee, told The Indian Express, “Yesterday the BHC Division Bench heard the matter.

The Respondent university submitted that they will be filing the affidavit/reply by 7th May. The bench granted the petitioner time to file a rejoinder to the same by 13th June. On 23rd June it’s fixed for hearing.”

Mukherjee was the faculty advisor to the AWC at the institution. Former and current AWC members had alleged that dogs had been beaten, forcibly relocated, and terrorised by security staff, allegedly on orders from the management. Students had also alleged that Mukherjee was being harassed by the administration over disputes in feeding the animals. FLAME University had denied these allegations and said that as a Jain-Minority institutem it “upholds the highest respect for all forms of life”.