HC seeks reply from BHU on plea on its South Campus

The Allahabad High Court today sought to know from the Benares Hindu University (BHU) as to whether it has obtained necessary permission from statutory bodies concerned for running the various courses offered at its South Campus in Mirzapur district.
A division bench comprising Justices Dilip Gupta and M K Gupta also directed the BHU authorities to file an affidavit containing details like remuneration given to teachers at the South Campus, the strength of students there from 2007 onward and the fees paid by them.
The court passed the order on a petition filed by Anand Deo and 30 others who had been teaching at the BHU's "Rajiv Gandhi South Campus" on contractual basis and whose services had been terminated on July 4 this year.

The petitioners, who have challenged their termination orders, alleged that they had been "appointed by a duly formed selection committee but the university ended their contracts in an arbitrary manner by a general order".
Later, walk-in interviews were held for filling up the vacant posts in violation of reservation norms, they said.
The petitioners also alleged that their official residence has been locked by the varsity authorities, to which the court responded by directing that the same "be unlocked within 24 hours".
Asking BHU, as well as the University Grants Commission, to file counter affidavits, the court fixed September one as the next date of hearing in the matter.