Protest leave in Hyderabad

Dozens of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe teachers at the University of Hyderabad went on a day’s leave today to protest the actions of vice-chancellor Appa Rao Podile, whose return to campus last week triggered a student backlash and a police crackdown.

Varsity authorities, however, claimed classes functioned normally.

A media release from the convener of the SC/ST faculty forum cited a series of “human rights violations” following the student agitation on March 22, the day Podile resumed charge.

Podile had gone on leave on January 24, a week after the suicide of Rohith Vemula, the Dalit scholar who hanged himself following his suspension along with four other students. Podile has been accused of abetting the January 17 suicide.

“The police resorted to an unwarranted and disproportionate show of force on the protesting students and neutral bystanders. Many students and two faculty members have been arrested and there is the threat of more arrests. An unwarranted beating up of the protesters continued even after their arrests,” the release said.

“Against all this and against continued denial of justice to Rohith Vemula and other suspended students, we, the SC/ST Faculty Forum and concerned faculty members of the University of Hyderabad, are going on a mass casual leave today,” the release said.

Registrar M. Sudhakar, however, denied disruptions over the mass leave call. “Classes are going on… they are functioning normally. We have not officially received any letter from them (the protesting faculty members),” he said.

Podile’s sudden comeback even before a judicial commission probing the suicide had given its report had surprised many faculty members. Several teachers and students had gathered to protest in front of his residence on the campus that morning. Some students are alleged to have barged in and damaged windowpanes, doors, a television set and furniture.

It led to the police crackdown, the arrest of 25 students and the two faculty members and an emergency-like situation on the campus that left the hostels without water, food and electricity.

Podile later defended the crackdown after the National Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognisance of the situation and issued notice to the human resource development ministry and the state government.

A local court has granted bail to the arrested students and teachers, expected to be released late tonight.

Sources associated with the Joint Action Committee (JAC), which is spearheading the campaign for removing Podile, said a few teachers apart from those of the SC/ST forum also took leave. “The agitation will continue till Podile resigns. He is responsible for the death of Rohith Vemula. He has no right to continue as VC,” said Sheshaiah, one of the Dalit research scholars suspended by the university.

Podile has issued a statement requesting the students share their thoughts with the university on how to restore normality on the campus. A notice on the website asked the students to give their suggestions to the warden or head of departments or to the VC.

A HRD ministry source said officials were in touch with the university authorities but added that no decision had been taken on whether to ask Podile to go on leave.