Interim Report of
the Independent National Fact Finding (FF) team into the Campus Violence on
22nd March, 2016 at the Hyderabad Central University
Date of the Fact Finding: March 24th - 25th.
2016
Members of the Fact Finding Team:
Henri Tiphagne, Human Rights
Defenders Alert, India, Tara Rao, Amnesty Intl, Burnard Fatima, International
Movement against all forms of Discrimination and Racism, Kuffir Nalgundwar, Round
Table India, Kiruba Munusamy, Supreme Court Lawyer, Beena
Pallical, National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, Ramesh Nathan,National
Dalit Movement for Justice, Asha Kowtal, All India Dalit Mahila
Adhikar Manch, Paul Divakar, Asia Dalit Rights Forum
Mandate of the Fact Finding Team:
To ascertain and understand the sequence of
events that led to the escalation of violence on the 22nd of March at Hyderabad
Central University (HCU).
2. To identify the human rights violations that transpired as a
result of the events.
3. To contribute towards a restoration of normalcy, peace and an
environment of non-discrimination in the University Campus by making key
recommendations to the concerned parties – the University Administration, the
Central Government, the State Government and University Students and Faculty.
The team comprising of senior activists,
academicians and lawyers have met with the students, faculty members, the
police, the Home Minister and local civil society organisations. The team will
be presenting a more detailed report at a later date based on the compiled
narratives and testimonies. This team was constituted as a response to the
terrifying news of the escalation of violence at HCU on March 22, 2016.
The FF team had taken several efforts to fix
appointments with the HCU officials and in particular with the Vice Chancellor,
Dr. Appa Rao, the Registrar and the Chief Security Officer.
§
In
spite of formal letters being handed over, the VC had after taking a lot of
time and communicating with the FF team [made to sit outside the HCU campus]
finally refused to meet the FF team and directed the FF team to communicate
with the Professor-in-charge, Public Relations and Official Spokesperson of the
HCU that he had appointed the day before.
§
When
this Professor –in-charge, Mr. Vipin Srivastava [ the previously appointed VC
in charge when Dr. Appa Rao was to proceed on long leave but who could not take
charge since he did not enjoy the trust of the faculty and students and hence
Prof. Periasamy had to take charge] was contacted he responded stating that he
could not meet the FF team but only speak to them on the phone!
§
The
same was the result of the FF team's effort to meet the Registrar and the Chief
Security Officer, conveying clearly that all the senior functionaries of the
HCU were in no mood to discuss the happenings in the HCU under any
circumstances.
§
This
also explains why the FF team was not allowed by the HCU security officers who
were manning the main gate of the university, to even enter the university
campus.
§
A
sense of fear was amplified with the order passed by the office of the
Registrar dated 23rd March preventing the entry of outside persons viz. print
and electronic media and political, social and student groups/individuals into
the campus – due to the prevailing extraordinary situation on the campus of the
university.
§
We
are of the strong opinion that this was only an effort to try to keep the
university as a closed 'fortress' with no external visitor allowed to meet the
faculty or students on campus and see for themselves the place of occurrence of
the campus violence let loose on the 22nd March, 2016.
§
This
further reveals that the officials of the University of Hyderabad had more to
hide than reveal in the violence on its campus on 22nd March 2016.
The team was able to meet with
representatives from the student community, faculty, the Police (the DCP K
Kartikeyan, ACP and Inspector), the State Home Minister)
Key interim findings:
1. The
Vice Chancellor Mr Appa Rao has a registered case pending against him under SC
ST PoA Act 1989 in connection with the Rohith Vemula suicide. No action has
been taken in this regard.
2. His unexpected re-entry into the campus was pre-planned with
details chalked out with his supporter students and faculty, which triggered
the escalation of violence.
3. What has been the role of the MHRD in his reinstatement and
this process was not transparent
4. Interim situation: It was established that the University was
working smoothly and with regularity in the interim phase, while Professor
Periasamy was the Vice Chancellor. The routine at the University was
maintained, including the proceedings within the University's Academic Council.
Students and Faculty have confirmed their satisfaction. Even during the
indefinite leave of Mr Appa Rao, the students association, faculties and
various political parties continue their struggle within the campus with
various demands.
5. It has also been observed that the Union Minister Shri
Dattatrey and Shushil Kumar also have not been arrested after being booked for
non-bailable offences. This inaction of the state, central government has
contributed to this situation.
6. Disruption of the Campus: The return of the Vice Chancellor,
Appa Rao, who had proceeded on indefinite leave triggered the disruption of
peace on campus. According to the Home Minister, VC Appa Rao expressed a desire
to the Minister to return to the campus and was strongly advised against it by
the Police Commissioner and the Home Minister, saying that it would cause
disruption of University. In spite of the Home Ministry's advice he chose to
return to the university.
7. Police's role: People arrested were not presented before a
magistrate within 24 hours as required by law.
8. Women students: Widespread assault of women students and
abusive language and threats to rape the women students were heard from the
police. Also targeted statements towards minority students and describing them
as "terrorists" was also heard
9. The police could have given bail but the students and faculty
were remanded in judicial custody
Recommendations:
The Fact Finding Team gives the following
recommendations in restoring the normalcy and peace in the University:
1. In the best academic and interest and in
restoring a peaceful environment in University and in order to ensure a fair
investigation is done, the FF Team recommends that the Vice Chancellor Mr Appa
Rao must be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
2. Police need to step up their response in dealing with the cases
filed (VC, and student arrests) with efficiency and due legal process both in
the case of the VC and the arrested students.
3. Normalcy of the University must be restored immediately. Free
mobility in and out of the University and this must be brought back to regular
functioning. This is essential for the academic health of the University, which
has suffered significantly.
4. Criminal investigation should be immediately conducted and
action should be taken against the police who have wilfully neglected their
duty under Section 4 of the SC ST PoA Amendment Act 2016.
5. Recommendation to the State Government should play a
facilitating role in bringing back normalcy to the campus.
6. The Central Government must swiftly and efficiently ensure a
smooth transition of the leadership of the University in the best interest of
the primary objective of the University of Academic Excellence by replacing the
Vice Chancellor in close consultation with the University students and Faculty.
Shame on those teachers, we all need water no matter who you are, we are all human beings, rest in peace.Grace Umbo