Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Communication Breakdown; Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Human Factors; Aircraft; Company Policy
While at the gate my cabin crew notified me that the aft left hand door (2L) was not able to shut and was misaligned. I went back and examined the door and found that assessment to be accurate. I was not aware of what had caused this; but the entire door was two inches low. I notified the Gate Agent that the aircraft was not airworthy and instructed her not to board the aircraft. I went to the cockpit and notified Maintenance of the issue as well as Operations and advised them not to board the aircraft. About two minutes later and before the mechanics had arrived the passengers started to come on board with the Gate Agent telling me that Operations had said that they didn't care what the Captain had said board the aircraft. After all the passengers had boarded the mechanics could finally get to the back of the aircraft and inspect the door. They had the immediate and exact same conclusion that I had come to which was that the aircraft was unairworthy and instructed me to remove the passengers as the flight would require a new aircraft. I made the calls to Operations; the Gate Agent and a PA to the very upset passengers and started the deplaning process. Once everyone was off I shut down the aircraft and ran my checklists.This event saw the Captain's authority overridden by Operations and possibly put safety of the passengers at risk as one of the primary exits of the aircraft was inoperative.Captain should have final say of what happens while in command of the aircraft.
Air carrier First Officer reported the Captain's authority was overridden by operations.