Osmania University suspends senior most faculty over administrative violations

Osmania University has suspended senior faculty member and OUTA outgoing president Prof B Manohar, accusing him of running a parallel administration and ethical violations linked to CAS promotions. The teachers’ association has termed the move arbitrary and unilateral.

Hyderabad: Osmania University on Tuesday announced the suspension of Prof. B Manohar, Osmania University Teachers Association (OUTA) outgoing president, charging him with running a parallel administration, ethical violations and a sustained defamation campaign.

Prof. Manohar has been raising the issue of alleged ‘injustice’ to over 45 faculty members in promotions under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS). Prior to the suspension, he was issued two memos, one for allegedly influencing the CAS interview panel and another for taking out a rally demanding justice for faculty who were denied promotions.

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Later, the university administration constituted an eight-member committee to investigate the issue. The committee, according to sources, did not call for an explanation from the professor.

The committee’s findings, according to the university, highlighted a pattern of encroachment into administrative matters, where Prof. Manohar repeatedly attempted to pressure the administration into making concessions that bypassed merit-based standards.

This charge was rejected by Prof. Manohar, who said he had merely raised faculty issues, particularly CAS promotions, and had never interfered in the administration.

“An institution of Osmania’s stature cannot be held hostage to the whims of an individual who accepts the university’s benefits while working daily to damage its reputation,” said Prof. G Naresh Reddy, Registrar OU.

Meanwhile, the OUTA held an emergency EC meeting and termed the suspension arbitrary, disproportionate and unilateral.