Varsity officials, teachers, senate members gherao VC

Nagpur: In a strange incident, around 30 officials, professors, senate members and students of Nagpur University (NU) gheraoed vice-chancellor SP Kane in his chamber for over two hours on Wednesday accusing him of discrimination against backward communities.
The agitators belonging to several Ambedkarite outfits rocked the university following Kane’s rebuttal of SC/ST panel report and transfer of 24 officials belonging to backward communities. The youth wings of the outfits and students also raised the issue of NU’s inaction against Central India Institute of Mass Communication (CIIMC) and its director Sunil Mishra.

The protesting professors and senate members demanded ‘fair representation in different bodies and committees’ set up by the university.

The representatives comprising NU officials exerted pressure on Kane to comply with the panel recommendations immediately or they would intensify their protest.

The protesters also warned the VC of indefinite dharna in front of the main building if their demands were not fulfilled within three working days, that is, till January 7.

In their letter, the outfits claimed that transfers were effected at the behest of Mishra, whom the officials had refused to provide with confidential documents. They said such action would demoralize the officials who have been working honestly.

Another demand was regarding handing over the charge of registrar’s post to deputy registrar Anil Hirekhan. They said the panel has observed injustice was meted out to Hirekhan by denying him the chance to occupy the top post.

The outfits reminded Kane of his decision taken eight months ago against Mishra and CIIMC yet the Board of Deans was sitting on the files pertaining to disaffiliation. They said CIIMC students are running from pillar to post and have lost an academic year but the NU hasn’t been able to release their documents.

Regarding representation in bodies, the protesters alleged teachers having affinity for saffron outfits were preferred in important panels for college inspection and teacher appointments. They reminded that the administration had promised to give backward category teachers fair representation in such panels during the senate meeting in October.

VC Kane refused to comment on the issue.

On Tuesday, Kane had told reporters that no injustice was done to anybody and he was following the Maharashtra Public Universities Act faithfully. Kane had also said that Hirekhan wasn’t eligible for the registrar’s post while director of examinations Neeraj Khaty was the most suitable for holding the additional charge.