After police harassment, Saibaba ‘victimised’ by Delhi University now

Days after he was arrested by Maharashtra Police for his alleged links with the Naxals, Prof G N Saibaba from Delhi University has been suspended by the authorities.

Saibaba taught at Ram Lal Anand (RLA) college at DU. Malay Neerav, media coordinator of DU informed  Millennium Post that Ram Lal Anand College has recommended the resignation of the professor.

‘The governing body of RLA College recommended his resignation to the university as per 

the rules and it was accepted,’ said Neerav. College authorities and Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) have also stated that the suspension is a routine thing and ‘nothing should be read into the incident’. According to the rule, any employee who is absent from duty for more than 48 hours without prior leave or notice, must be suspended.

Nandita Narayan, president of DUTA said, ‘it’s a routine exercise. He was suspended on the grounds of being absent from work. Nothing much should be read into this.’

She also informed that Saibaba’s bail application is scheduled for 24 May. ‘Hopefully he will get bail on 24 May. We also hope that once he gets bail, his suspension orders will be revoked by the university’, said Nandita. Earlier in the day, a section of the student’s union also staged protest demanding Saibaba’s suspension. 

Days after his arrest, he had planned to go on hunger strike from Thursday. Saibaba’s brother Ramdev said that he was being kept in highly unsanitary conditions.

According to a letter written to officials at the central prison, Ramdev met Saibaba in jail on 12 May where he was informed of the condition he was being kept in. ‘I came to know that he was kept in solitary confinement, not allowing anyone to help him,’ the letter stated. 

Ramdev has requested that Saibaba be provided with two assistants since his 90% locomotor disability restricted him from conducting even daily activities such as using the toilet.