On December 5, 2025, Lora Santhakumar, an assistant professor of literature at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), was fired because of social media posts she had made regarding Indian military action in Pakistan.
On May 7, 2025, Santhakumar shared a series of WhatsApp status updates voicing opposition to calls for war during “Operation Sindoor,” India’s military action conducted against Pakistan after unidentified attackers killed 26 tourists in Pahalgam village, located in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. In addition to criticizing civilian casualties resulting from an Indian military strike, Santhakumar shared quotes, warnings, and fact-checks regarding the broader consequences of war. One post read: “Say NO to war. And don’t be afraid to say so, even if it is not the popular opinion.” She also flagged several social media accounts for fraudulently posing as Indian Army officers, urging others not to amplify their content.
Following these posts, Santhakumar’s phone number and photo circulated rapidly on social media, triggering online abuse and death threats. The university suspended her on May 8, 2025. On June 16, 2025, the university issued a charge memo accusing Santhakumar of acting against national interests by posting “unethical remarks” against India’s armed forces while identifying herself as an SRMIST faculty member. An internal inquiry committee headed by the Director of Student Affairs conducted an investigation between July 15 and September 26 and submitted its report to the university registrar on October 30, 2025. The committee found Santhakumar guilty all counts and ordered her expulsion from the university, giving her one month to appeal to the vice-chancellor. Santhakumar rejected the accusation that she had brought disrepute to the university.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the dismissal of a scholar for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression. In addition to academic freedom, academics should enjoy the full scope of freedom of expression as all other persons. Universities have a responsibility not to restrict the freedom of expression (free speech) of their employees when they speak as private citizens, and must refrain from retaliatory actions that punish, restrict, or chill such private expression. In addition to harm to the immediate victim, disciplining academic staff for private expression undermines academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and democratic society generally.
Sources:
https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/srm-uni-dismisses-dalit-christian-professor-targeted-by-right-wing-for-anti-war-views
https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Christian-assistant-professor-in-Tamil-Nadu-fired-for-criticising-war-with-Pakistan-64438.html