Hyderabad University revokes suspension of research scholars, V-C to meet students today

HCU vice chancellor Professor Appa Rao, who has temporarily moved out of the university, is also expected to meet the protesting students today.

Rohith Vemula, Hyderabad University, Dalit student suicide, Rohith Vemula news, Rohith Vemula death, Dalit student death,

Rohith Chakravarthi Vemula.

Hyderabad Central University (HCU) has revoked the suspension of the five research scholars, including Rohith Vemula who committed suicide on Sunday, with immediate effect.

Sources in the university administration have told The Indian Express that the decision was taken in an emergency meeting of the Executive Council (highest decision-making body) of the university and will be communicated soon to the agitating students on campus. This, HCU officials added, has been done to calm rising tempers on the university campus, which has virtually stopped functioning for the last four days.

READ: Sack vice chancellor, demands Arvind Kejriwal

HCU vice chancellor Professor Appa Rao, who has temporarily moved out of the university, is also expected to meet the protesting students today. Rao, sources close to him claim, is living in an undisclosed location as he has been advised by the state police to stay away from the campus. Strangely, he hasn’t personally met any of students on campus ever since the news of Vemula’s suicide surfaced.

READ: Dalit professors resign from Hyderabad university in protest against Rohith Vemula’s death

In November last year, the HCU’s Executive Council had expelled five students, who happen to be from the Dalit community, from the hostel and barred access to public places on campus. They were, however, allowed to attend lectures and pursue their research in the university. The students were punished for allegedly assaulting an ABVP student leader on campus.

The issue snowballed into a political story this week after, Vemula, one of the suspended students, committed suicide in a hostel room on Sunday evening.

Ritika Chopra

Ritika Chopra, an award-winning journalist with over 17 years of experience, serves as the Chief of the National Bureau (Govt) and National Education Editor at The Indian Express in New Delhi. In her current role, she oversees the newspaper's coverage of government policies and education. Ritika closely tracks the Union Government, focusing on the politically sensitive Election Commission of India and the Education Ministry, and has authored investigative stories that have prompted government responses. Ritika joined The Indian Express in 2015. Previously, she was part of the political bureau at The Economic Times, India’s largest financial daily. Her journalism career began in Kolkata, her birthplace, with the Hindustan Times in 2006 as an intern, before moving to Delhi in 2007. Since then, she has been reporting from the capital on politics, education, social sectors, and the Election Commission of India. ... Read More

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