University of Hyderabad (UoH) vice-chancellor Appa Rao Podile will not face a transfer even though he has been accused of playing a role in Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula's suicide, the government said. "VC of UoH is appointed by President of India in the capacity of the visitor of the university and there is no provision of transfer of the VC of UOH to other central university under the provisions of UoH Acts and Statutes as the appointment is made on contractual basis," the Ministry of Human Resources Development said.
The ministry was replying to an affidavit filed with the Hyderabad High Court questioning Podile's reinstatement even though he is facing charges under the SC and ST (Prevention Of Atrocities) Act. He had gone on leave following the suicide on January 17, and he came back to duty on March 22, according to the Times of India. "The MHRD is the nodal ministry of all the central universities, including UoH, but has no role to play in day-to-day affairs of these central universities,'' the ministry said.
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