Osmania University faculty accuses VC of harassment, misuse of authority

The Osmania University Teachers’ Association has accused Vice Chancellor Prof Kumar Molugaram of harassment, misuse of authority, and blocking faculty elections. OUTA demands an independent enquiry, immediate disciplinary action, and protection for faculty from further retaliatory measures.

Hyderabad: The Osmania University Teachers’ Association (OUTA) has levelled serious allegations of harassment, intimidation, and gross misuse of authority against faculty by Vice Chancellor Prof Kumar Molugaram and has demanded disciplinary action.

In a letter to OU Chancellor and Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, OUTA president, Prof B Manohar and general secretary, Prof B Surender Reddy, alleged that faculty members were being threatened with dire consequences for not acting in accordance with ‘unilateral dictates’ of the VC.

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The teachers’ association raised the issue of promotion denial to eligible faculty members under the Career Advancement Scheme despite fulfilling criteria prescribed under the UGC regulations, government orders and university statutes.

“Faculty members who questioned these illegal denials, pointed out procedural violations or expressed dissent in statutory bodies such as interview/selection board, have been subjected to retaliatory actions, including notices, constitution of committee with pre-determined intent, disciplinary proceedings, and suspensions,” he said.

Raising the issue of faculty elections, the OUTA alleged that VC, with mala fide intent, kept faculty elections on hold instead of facilitating their smooth conduct. The association also charged the VC with taking administrative actions to prevent certain faculty from contesting elections.

The teachers’ body demanded that an independent and impartial enquiry be ordered immediately into acts of alleged harassment, misuse of power, denial of CAS promotions, and obstruction of faculty elections by the VC. The OUTA sought immediate protection for faculty members from any further retaliatory or vindictive action.