A group of academics and concerned citizens has condemned the SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) for terminating Assistant Professor Lora Santhakumar, calling the move a serious assault on academic freedom, due process, and freedom of conscience within Indian universities.

Groundxero | Dec 31, 2025

In yet another chilling instance of policing thought and institutional retaliation against dissent, the SRM Institute of Science and Technology has terminated Assistant Professor Lora Santhakumar for expressing, in her personal capacity, her view on WhatsApp status, where she expressed her opposition to the celebration of killings during the border skirmish, noting that the victims of such violence are the innocent and vulnerable, including children. What followed her suspension on May 8, 2025, was not a fair enquiry but a protracted process of intimidation and procedural abuse, culminating in her dismissal on December 5.

On December 5, 2025, SRMIST issued a termination notice to Lora Santhakumar that academics have described as internally contradictory and legally untenable. While the notice acknowledges that the social media post was made in a personal capacity, it nonetheless concludes that the charge against her stands “proved” on the grounds that she failed to demonstrate that SRMIST was not officially tagged in the post. This reasoning reverses the basic principles of jurisprudence by shifting the burden of proof from the employer to the faculty member.

According to the statement issued by the signatories, the internal enquiry that followed was marked by intimidation and procedural lapses. The enquiry committee reportedly met four times and subjected Prof. Santhakumar to a humiliating process in which she was forced to answer questions only with “Yes” or “No,” denied the right to be accompanied by a colleague, and denied proper documentation of the proceedings. Objections raised by Prof. Santhakumar regarding these irregularities were allegedly ignored, leading signatories to conclude that the enquiry was a mere formality and that the outcome had been predetermined.

The signatories to the statement contend that SRMIST has failed to safeguard academic freedom, misused disciplinary procedures to punish dissent, and deprived students of a committed teacher. They warned that such actions deepen a climate of fear and conformity in higher education.

Statement against the Termination of Prof. Lora Santhakumar

We, the undersigned academics and concerned citizens, strongly condemn the termination of Prof. Lora Santhakumar, Assistant Professor at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST).

Prof. Santhakumar served as a member of the faculty at SRMIST for close to a decade prior to 8th May 2025, when she was suspended pending further investigation for expressing, in a personal capacity on her personal WhatsApp status, her opposition to the celebration of killings during the border skirmish, noting that the victims of such violence are the innocent and vulnerable, including children. This position is shared by a number of academics and members of the public, and her suspension was surprising enough to invite condemnation from civil rights groups and the media.

The enquiry committee convened four times, during which Prof. Santhakumar was treated in a disrespectful and humiliating manner. She was forced to answer questions posed by the committee members with either a “Yes,” or “No,” and not allowed to bring a colleague with her for support, among other such indignities. Prof. Santhakumar raised these issues with the Enquiry Officer at SRMIST, even alerting them to the fact that the entire proceeding was not documented, but to no avail. It appears that the committee had no real interest in pursuing a sincere investigation and had drawn their conclusions prior to the commencement of the enquiry. This use of institutional procedures as a tool to harass and demean colleagues for holding views contrary to a section of public opinion is not a new strategy; we are deeply disappointed to see SRMIST stoop to such tactics.

We are, further, shocked and dismayed to learn that, following this torturous series of enquiries, her employment was terminated on 5th December, 2025. The termination notice is a remarkable document, replete with logical fallacies. For example, the central charge against Prof. Santhakumar is that her WhatsApp status was made in her capacity as a member of the faculty at SRMIST. Repeatedly, the termination notice says “this charge is proved of her posting in social media in her personal capacity,” which would seem to settle the matter. This sentence, however, is followed by the line: “It is not proved by the delinquent employee that she has not officially tagged SRMIST in her capacity as Assistant Professor. Therefore it is deemed that the entire charge against her is proved.” It seems that the committee could not even be bothered to read the posts and check whether SRMIST was tagged. Further, in line with the principles of jurisprudence, the burden of proof here lies squarely with the SRMIST administration. Their failure is in fact manifold: they have failed to protect their faculty against baseless accusations and uphold academic freedoms, they have failed to carry out an official enquiry in an appropriate manner, and they have ultimately failed the students who could have benefited from Prof. Santhakumar’s instruction and been inspired by her commitment to and courageous defense of humanitarian values.

We, the undersigned academics and concerned citizens, strongly condemn the termination of Prof. Santhakumar.

Signatories