Pune: After teachers and non-teaching staff at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) alleged at a meeting held on Wednesday that political and organisational interference, increasing workloads and additional responsibilities are affecting the academic environment at the university, vice-chancellor Suresh Gosavi said there will be no more resignations or suspensions under pressure from any organisation, crowd or group, and a legal decision will be taken only after a thorough investigation.“The rights of all constituents of the university (students, employees, teachers, officers) will be equal and all decisions will be made through the procedure prescribed by law. The necessary powers will be given to the servants along with the additional responsibilities given. The university will not compromise on the dignity and fundamental rights of all teachers/staff as well as students,” said Gosavi, addressing the assembled staff at Sant Dnyaneshwar Hall, SPPU Main Building.On Monday, students had protested and demanded the resignation of the rectors in the girls’ hostel. According to the students, the rectors had allegedly failed to support the girls when one of them was subjected to moral policing by two male students on the campus on Sunday night. The students had also demanded the suspension of the two male students and asked for equality in gendered hostel rules related to their in-time in the hostel.Gosavi clarified that the rectors of the girls’ hostel had resigned of their own accord considering the seriousness of the situation at that time, unlike media reports which said the university removed them from their positions.Geeta Shinde, head of the education department, who has been given the interim charge of the hostel, said she had received calls allegedly from the personal assistant of a politician asking her to protect the two male students who were suspended by the university. “We want SOPs on how different allegations will be dealt with. We want better safety infrastructure in the campus so that students—boys and girls—can be out safely. Whenever a teacher complains about the pressure or political or other interference, we want the university administration to support us and not succumb to the pressure,” said Shinde.Many teachers and non-teaching staff spoke about different instances where a staff member had been removed from his or her post or suspended due to alleged interference or pressure from student organisations or political interference, without following the due process, leading to them facing humiliation and mental stress. One of the teachers also called for a quick response team and clear, laid-down policies on how different matters relating to students in hostels as well as academics can be dealt with, without wasting time.
