Faculty members of the University of Hyderabad will go on an indefinite relay hunger strike starting Thursday to protest against “gender and racial discrimination” on Gracious Temsen, an associate professor of the varsity.
On May 31, UoH security guards had searched the house of Ms. Temsen in her absence , leading to widespread protest on the campus. While students of UoH have been protesting against police interference on campus, faculty members headed by University of Hyderabad Teachers Association (UHTA) has been demanding that the administration offer an unconditional apology to Ms. Temsen for violating her privacy.
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The UHTA also demanded that the university issue show-cause notice to deputy registrar, estate and security, for conducting the search. The faculty members also demanded that the committee, which was inquiring into the matter, include more North East faculty members.
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Meanwhile, the University of Hyderabad suspended five students for one semester for reportedly attacking a student of another group.
The five students belong to the Ambedkar Students Association (ASA) and they were found, it was said, to be responsible for attack on a student belonging to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
University Registrar Sudhakar said that the decision was taken based on the recommendations of the Proctoral Board, which is the disciplinary committee of the university.
A section of students opposed the suspension and said the Proctoral Board had taken a ‘biased’ decision.
“This is a nexus between the administration and the right wing forces to suppress free voice on the campus,” a statement released on behalf of the students said.
It further said that the committee could not link the attack to the ABVP activist.