NEW DELHI: The wheelchair-bound G N Saibaba, in prison since 2017 for alleged links with Maoists, was relieved of his employment by Ram Lal Anand College on March 31, his wife, Vasantha Kumari, has revealed.
The termination letter quoted a college memorandum stating, “The services of Dr G N Saibaba, assistant professor, RLA College, are terminated with effect from the afternoon of March 31, 2021.”
Kumari claimed that the family hadn’t been given any intimation about the impending termination nor afforded the opportunity to explain the academic’s views to the college governing body. “This is against natural justice. When the trial against G N Saibaba is going on, how can the college take such a decision?” she asked. “Academically, there were no problems with Saibaba’s record. His students support him and the staff association has also expressed its solidarity with him.”
Saibaba was suspended by the college in 2014 after Maharashtra police arrested him for alleged Maoist links. Saibaba, wheelchair bound with 90% disability, is currently in Nagpur Central jail.
The college had formed an inquiry committee in 2016, and in December 2019, Kumari had submitted a reply on behalf of Saibaba requesting the college not to take further action against him in view of his appeal challenging his conviction and sentencing being sub-judice. The letter also pointed out that when the late professor SAR Geelani of Zakir Hussain College was arrested and convicted in the Parliament attack case, he was only suspended by his institution. After his appeal and acquittal, the suspension had been revoked.
On September 3 last year, when the college sought a response from Saibaba, Kumari replied on September 21 that she hadn’t met her husband after March earlier that year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Requesting more time for a reaction, she had written, “I haven’t had a discussion with him about issues pertaining to the inquiry report/departmental proceedings since then because prison meetings for inmates of Central Jail, Nagpur, where he is housed, have been suspended since March 2020.”
Though the college notice said three months’ salary would be paid as per DU Ordinance XI of the DU Act, the termination of her husband’s service would spell financial difficulties for Kumari and her daughter. “Following his suspension, we were only getting half his salary. Termination means we will not get anything. I am a housewife and my daughter is still studying. How will we survive?” asked Kumari.
Human rights organisations and civil society groups seeking his release have expressed shock at the termination. They had, on February 17, demanded medical parole for Saibaba after he tested positive for Covid.
DU Teachers’ Association president Rajib Ray questioned the decision “when the option of judicial appeal is still pending”. He added the college should review its decision. Ray also inferred that the termination must have had the approval of acting vice-chancellor P C Joshi under Ordinance XI.
Despite queries sent to R K Gupta, principal, Ram Lal Anand College, and the acting DU VC, there were no responses from either.