Hyd university faculty on mass leave against police action

HYDERABAD: More than 50 faculty members of University of Hyderabad went on leave on Tuesday, protesting against the police action on campus and the return of vice-chancellor P Appa Rao.

A day after 25 people were granted bail and released from jail for the violent protests held on campus last Tuesday, teachers, including those from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, applied for the leave in protest, an assistant professor said.

The university campus was thrown out of gear on March 22 when Rao resumed office after a two-month leave following the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula. Students alleged Rao was responsible for Vemula’s suicide, and demanded his immediate arrest.

The university registrar had suspended classes till March 28 due to the ensuing violence.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Social Justice that is pursuing Vemula’s case, however, asked students to resume their academic schedule while protesting as the semester was ending and this is a crucial time for them.

“We appeal to the students to use blue ribbons as a means of protest, declaration and reminder of the fact that our fight is still on while going about their classes, labs and other activities,” the JAC statement said.

The JAC is also readying to welcome the students and faculty members returning from jail on Tuesday evening, with plans of a long march and a public meeting on campus.

We appeal to the students to use blue ribbons as a means of protest, declaration and reminder of the fact that our fight is still on while going about their classes, labs and other activities. THE JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE