The Delhi University Teachers Association on Friday demanded a Visitorial inquiry into the auction of radioactive material by the Chemistry department which led to the death of a scrap worker and said the Vice Chancellor should step down for enabling a fair probe. Highly critical of the role of VC Deepak Pental in the entire episode,the teachers rejected his proposal to set up an inquiry into the matter,arguing that any probe under the university administration will be an eye-wash. The origin of radioactive Cobalt-60 found in west Delhis Mayapuri,which led to the death of one person,was traced to Delhi Universitys Chemistry Department where it was lying unused since the last 25 years. We are writing to the President of India seeking a Visitorial inquiry. The President as the Visitor of the institution should constitute a committee of experts to examine the case and fix the blame, DUTA President Aditya Narayan Misra said at a press conference here. He said the case requires an impartial inquiry which does not seem to be possible under the supervision of the VC,whose role itself is questionable. Any purchase or selling off of equipment takes place only after his due permission. His accepting the moral responsibility is not enough. He should resign immediately,or else his bosses in the HRD ministry should sack him, Misra said. The Association said the fact that the trail of such material led to the Delhi University is shameful and unfortunate and depicts the casual and callous way in which the radioactive equipment was sold out to the scrap dealer. The VC is trying to protect himself. He will also be protecting others. Let him say he was not aware of the disposal,let him say he is not purchasing equipment for labs, Misra said.
