Yogendra Yadav sacked from UGC

Activist Yogendra Yadav was sacked from the UGC for being a member of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party as the government said his association with the apex body of higher education may give a scope for its "future politicisation".

Activist Yogendra Yadav was sacked from the UGC for being a member of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party as the government said his association with the apex body of higher education may give a scope for its "future politicisation".

The order issued by the human resource development ministry on Wednesday said, "The central government in pursuance of powers vested under Rule 6 of UGC (disqualification, retirement and conditions of service of the members) rules 1992 hereby retires Yogendra Yadav from the post of member UGC with immediate effect."

"After examining Yadav's reply with reference to the UGC act, rules and relevant court pronouncements, it is established that Yadav's joining a registered political party viz AAP as an office-bearer, his antecedents and credentials at the time of his appointment in July 2011 and now stand substantially altered and that his continued association with the UGC as a member may not only set a dangerous precedent, it may even give scope for further politicisation of the UGC and its academic decision making," the ministry order said.

Giving a point-wise reply to the charges Yadav had made, the order said: "The contention that the AAP's ideology does not conflict with UGC's functions and powers is erroneous since the HRD ministry has neither the wherewithal nor the intent to verify the ideologies of different parties."

Yadav, 50, taught political science at Panjab University, Chandigarh, between 1985 and 1993.