EFLU students, angry and hungry for a VC

Protests at the English and Foreign Language University (EFLU) have been stepped up by the student bodies in their demand for a permanent appointment of a vice chancellor (VC). A hunger strike has been called for by more than six student bodies. The college executive committee is currently planning to convene on September 14 to scrap the existing search committee that was instituted to appoint a VC. Students feel that the process of scrapping the current search committee and appointing a new one could delay the appointment for as long as another year.Says Nainala Satish, a PhD student, “The VC-in-charge does not address our problems. There are decisions that need to be made that only a properly elected VC can. However the management has been responding negatively. We will prolong the strike if necessary.” The protests which have been ensuing for a couple of months now have been asking for the appointment as the position is currently occupied by VC-in-charge Prof Mohammad Miyan, who is also the VC at Maulana Azad National Urdu University. Added to that is the fact that the proposal given by the search committee was shot down by the management, prolonging the limbo the college is in. Students claim that the appointment of Prof Miyan was done in violation of the college policy and the decision to scrap the search committee will also violate other regulations. “In case of the incumbent VC finishing his term, the pro VC steps in and takes charge. However, Prof Miyan was brought in from another university. The management is now planning for disciplinary action against protesting students. We might just take this up at a court of law,” added Satish.