Kerala Guv suspends VC of Kerala Veterinary University over student death

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan as Chancellor of Universities in the state on Saturday suspended the Vice Chancellor of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Wayanad in connection with the recent death of a student studying thereKhan in the order of suspension said that a report given by the VC Prof Dr M R Saseendranath about the incident was a testimony to the gross dereliction of duty on the part of the Vice Chancellor during the developments that led to the death of 20yearold Sidharthan J S on February 18The 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 students deathThe 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 courseIn 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 ActStatutes and other relevant rules and regulations in forceThe 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 saidThe Governor further said that the present state of affairs in the university necessitates an urgent exemplary action and a detailed enquiry into the matter according to the provisions of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Act 2010In 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 saidDuring the suspension period he will be entitled to subsistence allowance and other allowances admissible as per rules the order saidSaseendranath was appointed as VC of the university on July 23 2019Meanwhile Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan claimed that after Sidharthans death the SFI was spreading false stories about him and also lodged a false complaint against the studentSatheesan also accused the ruling CPIM of protecting the accused in the caseHe said that the Congress would be organising a protest in all block level headquarters todayBesides that an indefinite hunger strike will begin in Thiruvananthapuram under the leadership of KSU Youth Congress and Mahila Congress presidents from Monday the opposition leader said in a statementSidharthan who was a second year Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry student was found hanging in the bathroom of his hostel on February 18His parents have claimed that some of his college mates told them that he was beaten to death by some local SFI leaders and activistsThe father contended that according to the postmortem report his sons body had three days worth of injuries and an empty stomach which indicated that he was brutally beaten up and not given any foodFollowing the parents claims the political waters in the state were stirred up as the Congress and the BJP accused the ruling CPIMs student wing SFI of beating Sidharthan to deathThe Students Federation of India SFI has denied the allegationsThe police which had initially registered a case of unnatural death had later booked 12 students for various offences including abetment of suicide wrongful restraint and voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means under the IPC and the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging ActLater the number of accused increased to 18Till yesterday 11 of the accused in the case have been arrestedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever