The Pondicherry Central University administration sacked the Dean of Students’ Welfare Dr P Moorthy from the position in the wake of recent controversy over the release of a students’ magazine.

Moorthy was the Chief Editor of the magazine ’Widerstand’ which carried controversial articles that urged students to oppose various forms of oppression, including saffronisation of education.

According to The Hindu, Dr Ramachandran, Registrar (in-charge) issued the order stating that Moorthy from Department of Politics and International Studies, was relieved from the position of Dean of Students Welfare. He would be replaced by Dr Rajeshwari Seshadri, Assistant Dean, Students Welfare with immediate effect.

The Pondicherry University Students’ Council had brought out its annual magazine ‘Widerstand’ (German for resistance) last week.

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged a protest in front of the Students Welfare Dean’s office demanding an official ban on the magazine claiming that it contains ‘anti-national’ content, the dismissal of members of the student council and the removal of the present Vice Chancellor. Copies of the magazine were also burnt.

Amidst the tensions in Pondicherry University’s campus, cases have been filed against ABVP members protesting the student council’s publication of a supposed anti-national magazine.

With protests on and threats of more protests in the future, the university clamped down on the magazine, banning its distribution on Friday.