Two faculty members of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali, have been asked to explain why they endorsed a petition to the authorities of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, expressing disappointment over the cancellation of a conversation on “Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Prisons and the Criminal Justice System” on June 28. The institute cited the service rules which prohibit faculty members from expressing their views without the permission of the authorities. These service rules have been adopted by many higher education institutes (HEIs), making it a crime for teachers to express themselves freely. India,…