A Circular issued by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) asking its teaching and non-teaching staff to not participate in protests while on duty, as the institute is funded by the Government of India, has landed it in controversy even as protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) raged across the nation. The notice has led to dissent on campus with faculty and students terming the move illegal and draconian.

The circular issued by the administration states, "This is for the information of all staff and faculty that TISS being an institute funded by the Government of India, the staff and faculty cannot join any form of protest while on duty. This is against the Conduct Rules and their absence from duty to join the protest will be treated as unauthorised." The circular, which has the director's approval, was issued later in the day on December 19, just before the August Kranti Maidan protest. It's timing has led to a lot of discussion among students and faculty members, with many of them terming the decision illegal.