The Osmania University Teachers’ Association (OUTA) rally on Tuesday condemning the assault on a teacher by a student witnessed some tense moments with a group of students trying to obstruct the rally.
After heated arguments, some teachers were pushed when they resisted the advancing students.
The teachers managed to take out the rally eventually from the Arts College to the administrative building where they presented a memorandum to the Vice Chancellor S. Satyanarayana, seeking stringent action against the accused and protect the teachers from future attacks.
A meeting was held at the Senate Hall where several teachers spoke condemning the attack and raised concern over their safety in view of the militant attitude of the students. Some teachers felt that the lenience given by the higher authorities has led to this situation and they need to be firm with regard to disciplining the students or else the image of the university would take a beating.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Satyanarayana, also addressed the teachers condemning the incident, yet he only harped on maintaining peace on the campus without indicating any action which he had in mind to prevent such incidents.
He also stated that he was not keen on a second term.
In the memorandum submitted to the Vice Chancellor, the OUTA said: “Culture of violence unleashed on teachers is highly regrettable and reprehensible. It creates an atmosphere of uncertainty and perpetual tension among teachers while discharging their duties.”
It further said: “Filthy language, threats to the teachers on cell phones and usage of abusive language has become a regular feature. These practices are detrimental and harmful to the self-respect, dignity and integrity of teachers, teacher-administrators, heads, chairpersons, deans and other functionaries in the University.”
“The deans, heads and chair persons will also resign and not discharge their duties till the Ph.D. admission issue is resolved, and action is taken against the students who have assaulted the teacher,” said the OUTA general secretary B. Manohar in the statement.
The OUTA has also asked the University to stop Ph.D admission process and conduct a judicial inquiry with a retired judge to find out the irregularities as alleged by the students.
