University Of Hyderabad VC Goes On Long Leave

Bowing to the mounting pressure from many political parties, Hyderabad Central University (University Of Hyderabad) Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile went on indefinite leave after being in the midst of the controversy over the alleged suicide by Rohith Vemula, a research scholar.

Senior Professor Vipin Srivastava has been appointed in-charge Vice-Chancellor of the university for the time being.

Podile reportedly went on long leave as the suicide saw nation-wide protests by student unions and leaders of the Congress, Left, Samajwadi Party and others. Many central political leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal even came to the campus to extend solidarity to the victim's family and railed against the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

Though the university withdrew the suspension order against the four other students, it could not douse the tensions prevailing due to the incident. The university also announced Rs 8 lakhs as ex-gratia to the kin of Vemula's family against the demand of Rs 50 lakhs, and that was rejected by the family, too.

As a result, with the pressure against him, and against union ministers Bandaru Dattatreya and Smriti Irani, escalating, Podile had to take a decision to go on leave.