Hyd varsity students write to President, seek V-C’s sacking

Students’ Union of University of Hyderabad (UoHSU) on Wednesday sought President Pranab Mukherjee’s immediate intervention to resolve issues related to the varsity, that is in limelight post-suicide by a Dalit scholar, and ensure sacking of Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile.

UoHSU president Zuhail K P shot off a letter to Mukherjee drawing his attention to prevailing “tension” in the campus and alleged lapses of the Rao-led administration in handling the suicide case of Dalit research scholar Rohit Vemula in January.

“We would like to inform about the prevailing tension in the campus. Prof Appa Rao Podile is an accused in the case of Rohit Vemula’s suicide. The two-member fact finding committee appointed by the MHRD to investigate the disciplinary action on five Dalit research scholars (including Rohit), which led to the suicide of Rohit, pointed out that the university administration under VC Appa Rao has mishandled the case,” Zuhail said in the letter.

The report pointed out several gaps in the procedures followed by the VC in deciding the punishment (against students). Moreover, Appa Rao has been booked under the SC/ST (Prevent of Atrocities) Act and for abetment to suicide, Zuhail said. 

The High Court did not grant him bail or any other interim relief till date.