Thiruvananthapuram: As the Chancellor of Universities in Kerala, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan suspended the Vice Chancellor of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Wayanad on Saturday. This action was taken in response to the recent death of a student studying at the university.
Governor Khan stated in the suspension order that the report provided by the Vice Chancellor, Prof (Dr) M R Saseendranath, regarding the incident, highlighted "a testimony to the gross dereliction of duty on the part of the Vice Chancellor" during the events that resulted in 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.
"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 assumed the position of Vice Chancellor of the university on July 23, 2019.
Meanwhile, V D Satheesan, the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, asserted that following Sidharthan's death, the SFI spread false allegations about him and filed a baseless complaint against the student. Satheesan also accused the ruling CPI(M) of shielding the accused involved in the case.
He announced that the Congress would stage protests in all block-level headquarters on the current day. Additionally, an indefinite hunger strike, led by KSU, Youth Congress, and Mahila Congress presidents, is scheduled to commence in Thiruvananthapuram from Monday, as per the opposition leader's statement.
Sidharthan, a second-year Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry student, was discovered hanging in his hostel bathroom on February 18. His parents asserted that some of his college peers informed them that local SFI leaders and activists fatally assaulted him.
The father argued that the postmortem report revealed his son's body bore injuries consistent with three days' worth of assault and indicated he had not been given any food.
The state's political landscape became tense as the Congress and BJP accused the ruling CPI(M)'s student wing, SFI, of being responsible for Sidharthan's demise.
The Students Federation of India (SFI) refuted these accusations. Initially categorized as an unnatural death, the police later charged 12 students with various offenses including abetment of suicide, wrongful restraint, and causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means under the IPC and the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act. The number of accused subsequently increased to 18.
As of now, 11 of the accused have been apprehended by the authorities.
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