Telangana HC to NIT: Harbour no ego, solve student suspension issue by January 24

HYDERABAD: Stating that authorities should not hold grudges and ego hassles when people try to avail statutory remedies provided by the system, the Telangana high court on Wednesday directed authorities of National Institute of Technology (NIT) to ensure that the University’s academic senate committee decides on the appeal filed by a suspended B Tech first year student on January 24 and convey the decision to HC by January 27.
The bench of Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice A Abhishek Reddy gave this direction while hearing the plea of the parents of the student who was suspended by NIT authorities. The student was among 34 students facing disciplinary action for resorting to unlawful activities such as Ganja consumption, ragging etc.
T Mahender Rao, the NIT counsel, handed over a letter written by authorities to the bench,which stated that they respect the high court, but expressed reservations about the student’s decision to approach the court when the appeal filed by him is to be decided by senate committee.
The NIT counsel insisted that the decision making process be left to institute’s discretion. “ Majority of the 34 students who are facing the disciplinary proceedings from rich families. Some of them were using drugs too”, the NIT counsel said.
Appearing for the petitioner, senior counsel D V Sitarama Murthy said that authorities must keep in mind the students’ future before subjecting them to such harsh punishments.
The bench also observed that the tone and tenor of the letter written by NIT authorities reflects an ego hassle.
“The institute has already spoken its mind and it appears that even senate may not be of much help”, the bench said before posting the case to January 27.