BU students and faculty protest seeking syndicate member Ramesh Babu's removal

Bengaluru: Students of Bangalore University, along with members of faculty, have been protesting at the Jnana Bharathi campus since Thursday night demanding the removal of syndicate member Ramesh Babu P, accusing him of needlessly meddling in the administration of the varsity.

Terming Babu’s conduct with members of the faculty unacceptable, a senior professor said, “He (Babu) was nominated to the syndicate by the state government. He is misusing Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s name, and going about verbally abusing members of the faculty.”

Questioning Babu’s presence at interviews for guest lecturers, another professor said, “Members of the syndicate are not allowed to be present during any selection process. But Babu abused his powers and conducted interviews himself.”

The protesters alleged that Babu had verbally abused the varsity’s special officer for Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes during the Valmiki Jayanti celebrations. Babu’s behaviour was vitiating the varsity’s academic atmosphere, opined protesting faculty members. “We have also lodged complaints against him with the state government. Our protest will continue till his nomination to the syndicate is withdrawn,” the protesters said.

A petition demanding Babu’s removal has been submitted to the varsity Vice-Chancellor and the state government. Faculty members warned the government of boycotting classes if the member’s nomination was not withdrawn.