3 min readNew DelhiApr 2, 2025 08:33 AM IST
First published on: Apr 2, 2025 at 05:00 AM IST
Days after a teachers’ association under the University of Allahabad publicly alleged administrative delays in the Vice-Chancellor’s office, the institution has issued a circular asking teaching and non-teaching staff to “strictly refrain” from publishing articles and airing their views in the media, and warning of “strict action”.
The circular, dated March 29 and issued by Registrar Prof Ashish Khare, states that “all the teaching and the non-teaching staff members of the University of Allahabad must strictly refrain from publishing articles, news, comments and views in print or digital media, which explicitly or implicitly tarnish the image of the University of Allahabad”.
It also warns that “failure to comply will result in appropriate action against the erring staff member, as per the provisions laid out in the Act, Statutes and Ordinances of the University”.
On March 25, the Allahabad University Constituent Colleges Teachers Association (AUCCTA) had issued a press release, following its general body meeting, stating that “several members were angry and agitated that files of colleges are piled up in the Vice-Chancellor’s office for months and (they) have to make frequent visits to the V-C’s office for even minor work.”
AUCCTA president Umesh Pratap Singh could not be reached for comment on the Registrar’s circular. A department head in the university, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the circular as “unfortunate”. “No one can criticise the university authorities on record,” the department head said.
The circular does not refer to the teachers’ association or its press release. Vice-Chancellor Prof Sangita Srivastava’s office referred a request from The Indian Express for comment to the Registrar. When contacted, Khare described the circular as “routine”. “This notification is a routine thing. We had issued one earlier as well and the present one is only a follow-up of that,” he said.
On November 14, 2024, Khare had issued a circular advised teaching and non-teaching staff that “other than publication of articles or news of purely literary, artistic or scientific character, any publication in form of any article or news in print or digital media platforms must first be reviewed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) and subsequently approved by the competent authority”.
Responding to queries from The Indian Express on the latest circular, Prof Jaya Kapoor, PRO of the university, said, “The (March 29) notice has been issued in view of the model code of conduct for teachers. Teachers can share their achievements and research findings, but have been advised to refrain from making statements in social media, etc., on issues that would tarnish the image of the institution. No action has been initiated so far on anyone in consideration of the notice (dated November 14).”
The University of Allahabad, once known as “Oxford of the East”, was established in 1887 and is the fourth-oldest university of modern India. It has been a Central university since 2005 and is one of the 165 in the category of Institutions of National Importance (INI).
The institution has issued a circular asking teaching and non-teaching staff to “strictly refrain” from publishing articles and airing their views in the media, and warning of “strict action”. 
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