Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 2 (PTI) Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, as Chancellor of Universities in the state, on Saturday suspended the Vice Chancellor of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Wayanad in connection with the recent death of a student studying there.
Khan, in the order of suspension, said that a report given by the VC — Prof (Dr) M R Saseendranath — about the incident was “a testimony to the gross dereliction of duty on the part of the Vice Chancellor” during the developments that led to the death of 20-year-old Sidharthan J S on February 18.
“The indifferent, negligent and callous attitude of the VC towards his duties and responsibilities, especially in the background of this unfortunate incident is revealed from his report dated February 28,” the Governor said and ordered a judicial probe into the student’s death.
The Governor suggested a probe by a sitting or retired judge of the High Court or Supreme Court and said, “The Registrar General, High Court of Kerala will be requested in due course.” In the suspension order, Khan said that the development which led to the death of the student indicated that the affairs in the university were not being attended to by the VC “with desired sincerity, gravity and promptness as mandated in the Act/Statutes” and other relevant rules and regulations in force.
“The lack of regard to harmonious atmosphere in the campus and indifference towards the affairs of the university under the leadership of the incumbent VC has gone to a level beyond comprehension in terms of Rule of Law, which is an ominous sign and does not augur well for the conduct of affairs in the university and for the higher education sector in the state for the times to come,” the order said.
The Governor further said that the present state of affairs in the university necessitates an urgent exemplary action and a detailed enquiry into the matter according to the provisions of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Act 2010.
“In order to have a fair enquiry in this matter, I, the Chancellor of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, being the appointing authority, hereby order that Prof (Dr) M R Saseendranath, Vice Chancellor, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University shall be placed under suspension with immediate effect, pending enquiry,” Khan said.
During the suspension period, he will be entitled to subsistence allowance and other allowances admissible as per rules, the order said.
Saseendranath was appointed as VC of the university on July 23, 2019.
Later, while speaking to reporters here, Khan said if the university authorities did not know what was happening there, “then there is something fishy about it”.
He said that what happened in the university was a “huge failure on the part of the university authorities”.
“How is it possible that this ragging or harassing or torture continued for almost three days and nobody knows about it?” Khan asked, adding that he was informed about what happened only yesterday.
That is why it was decided to suspend the VC of the university and order an enquiry, he told reporters.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor too said that there should be an inquiry by a sitting judge as to whether student politics are being conducted in campuses or criminal elements were being infiltrated there in the name of party to create a reign of terror.
“I demand a serious judicial inquiry into the reality of the student politics in the university campuses in our state,” he said.
Tharoor also called for a probe by CBI or some other central agencies into the student’s death.
Khan, while speaking to reporters here, also levelled serious allegations against the ruling CPI(M)’s student wing SFI by accusing it of converting one hostel in every university into its headquarters where even varsity officials are afraid to go.
The Governor also alleged that the Students Federation of India (SFI) used such headquarters for “illegal, criminal and undesirable activities” and said that “a big enquiry will be needed” with regard to that in future.
Khan further alleged that SFI and the banned organisation PFI were working together.
On contacting SFI about these allegations no response was received from its end.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan claimed that after Sidharthan’s death, the SFI was spreading false stories about him and also lodged a false complaint against the student.
Satheesan also accused the ruling CPI(M) of protecting the accused in the case.
He said that the Congress would be organising a protest in all block level headquarters.
Besides that, an indefinite hunger strike will begin in Thiruvananthapuram under the leadership of KSU, Youth Congress and Mahila Congress presidents from Monday, the opposition leader said in a statement.
Sidharthan, who was a second year Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry student, was found hanging in the bathroom of his hostel on February 18.
His parents have claimed that some of his college mates told them that he was beaten to death by some local SFI leaders and activists.
The father contended that according to the postmortem report, his son’s body had three days’ worth of injuries and an empty stomach, which indicated that he was brutally beaten up and not given any food.
Following the parents’ claims, the political waters in the state were stirred as the Congress and the BJP accused the ruling CPI(M)’s student wing SFI of beating Sidharthan to death.
The Students Federation of India (SFI) has denied the allegations The police, which had initially registered a case of unnatural death, had later booked 12 students for various offences, including abetment of suicide, wrongful restraint and voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, under the IPC and the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act.
Later, the number of accused increased to 18.
Till yesterday, 11 of the accused in the case have been arrested. PTI HMP HMP SS
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