Varsity V-C refuses to extend leave, put on compulsory wait

Vice-Chancellor of Pondicherry University Chandra Krishnamurthy, on leave in the backdrop of students' agitation demanding her resignation, has been put on 'compulsory wait' until further orders by the Union Human Resource Development Ministry.
The Ministry issued an order to this effect today after Krishnamurthy refused to extend her leave as advised and decided to join duty tomorrow.
She was put on compulsory wait taking into account "the ground situation as reported by local administration, the compelling circumstances and in the interest of restoring normalcy in the (central) university," the order, a copy of which was released to media here, said.

The Union Territory government wanted the V-C to extend her leave and stay away from the university campus as the situation "is too explosive for her to return at this stage", it said.
"Whereas it is not advisable at present to allow Professor Chandra Krishnamurthy to resume charge and whereas she is not agreeable to extend her leave it has been decided that she should remain on compulsory wait from August 22 and until furthers," the order said.
It also said Professor Anisa Basheer Khan, the senior most Dean and presently acting Vice-Chancellor, will continue to be the 'Vice Chancellor in charge' until further orders.

Students of the university have been on a war path since July 27 demanding among other things the removal of Krishnamurthy for alleged violation of human rights, administrative chaos and plagiarism.
The V-C was directed to proceed on leave by a two-member HRD official team which visited the University on August 7 and 8 and made an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.