Ten teachers resign from administrative posts at Hyderabad Central University; protest continues

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Central University on Thursday revoked the expulsion of four Dalit research scholars from the hostel and all public spaces, including the canteen and the administrative block, but the student protests continued unabated and the fate of vice-chancellor Appa Rao Podile remained uncertain. He may be asked to quit in an effort to divert the ire against Union ministers Bandaru Dattatreya and Smriti Irani. About 10 teachers and faculty belonging to the SC/ST community have resigned from their administrative posts like chief examination officer, warden and medical officer, in solidarity with the students.
They have, however, kept their teaching responsibilities. Podile tried to call them for a reconciliation meeting, but failed. A teacher told ET that more faculty members, including non-Dalits, were likely to join the agitation.

A top official in the Telangana government, who has been in touch with the Union HRD ministry, told ET: “The V-C will most likely be asked to quit. The students have been agitating from three days after the death of Vemula and we don’t want this simmering situation to continue in our city. The HRD ministry has agreed to respond to the situation.”

The bureaucrat said the Telangana government had been kept out of the situation as it involved a central university directly under the control of the HRD ministry. “They have sent a two-member team to probe the matter. The students have submitted a report, which states the whole matter of suspending Vemula and his four colleagues was mishandled by the VC.

This will be the basis on which the VC will be asked to go,” he added.