Mangaluru: Vedashree Nidya, in-charge principal of Puttur Women’s First Grade College, has been suspended after her altercation with Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai during a recent student protest.Students had staged a protest demanding facilities, during which the principal allegedly argued with Rai.
Jabeen Taj GM, under secretary to Govt (collegiate), higher education department, issued the suspension order Thursday, pending inquiry.The order said the principal showed dereliction of duty by not bringing students’ problems to the officers concerned and by failing to prevent the road blockade. She was suspended under Rule 10(1) of the Karnataka Civil Service (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1957.After the Feb 16 protest, the department’s joint director submitted a report based on discussions with the principal, staff, and students. The principal reportedly said the protest was to demand a new college building and that a memorandum had been submitted to the MLA.Puttur Town police, in their report, said students blocked the road without permission, disrupting law and order. Citing intelligence input, the police said the principal and Prof Ivan Francis Lobo were present during the protest and encouraged students.The under secretary noted that health issues and other problems arising from the construction of a dialysis centre near the college were not brought to the notice of the MLA or departments concerned before the protest was staged.Based on reports from the joint director, police, and a letter from the MLA, the govt found prima facie that the principal failed to bring students’ problems to the officers concerned and prevent the protest, the order stated.
