The two suspended professors of University of Hyderabad, Dr KY
Ratnam and Dr Tathagatha Sengupta launched a hunger strike on Tuesday
outside the university demanding immediate revocation of their
suspension.
The Executive Council of the UoH had taken the
decision to suspend them in its meeting held last Monday and
thesuspension orders were issued on Monday.
Ratnam and Sengupta
were detained when police dragged away protesters who besieged the
official residence of vice-chancellor Appa Rao on March 22, protesting
against the latter resuming his office after a long leave.
According
to the varsity officials, the faculty members were considered
suspended from March 22. Dr Tathagatha said that in coming days, they
would hold study circles and discussions on issues related to
caste-based discrimination.
UoH SC/ST Teachers’ Forum in a press
release stated that it is opportunistic for the university to pass the
suspension orders, after using their services for the entire duration of
the semester until May, retroactively deeming them suspended starting
March 22 onwards until further orders. “This amounts to a continuation
of caste atrocities against Dalits. We demand that the suspension be
revoked, and that Prof Appa Rao be immediately suspended from duty and
prevented from committing any further atrocity against Dalits on the
campus. We demand justice for Rohit Vemula and his family and an end to
caste atrocities and discrimination on university campuses,” the release
stated.
Courtesy: The New Indian Express
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