TISS Revokes Mass Termination Of Staff As Tata Education Trust Assures Funding

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai reversed the termination of 105 teaching and non-teaching staff on Sunday, just one day after the decision sparked controversy.

A statement from TISS clarified that those staff members were “appointed under programmes funded by the Tata Education Trust (TET) and were on a contractual basis with the exact programme period”.

The TISS registrar stated that ongoing discussions with TET have led to assurances that resources will be allocated to TISS to address this issue.

“The letter issued on June 28 addressing all TET programme faculty and non-teaching staff concerned is hereby withdrawn with immediate effect,” the statement read.

Following the letter on June 28, the Progressive Students Forum (PSF), a students' collective from TISS, strongly condemned the decision, stating that the mass termination will cause a significant shortage of both teaching and non-teaching staff at the institute.

The body urged the TISS administration to reverse the terminations and work with the Union government and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to secure funding for these positions.