Hyderabad: AP-native teaching and non-teaching staff have alleged harassment and discrimination by the registrar of the Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University. Women staff have approached the Women’s Commission for solace, saying that they had suffered for months. The AP-native staff told the women’s panel that they were being subjected to harsh words from the registrar if they were late for work even by five minutes. They alleged that they were unable to work properly due to the rude behaviour of the varsity registrar.

They said that they were being forced to sign the attendance register twice every day, without being assigned any work and without being provided any basic facilities. An assistant professor in the varsity, under condition of anonymity, said, “Since past 18 months, we are standing under the trees from 10 am to 4 pm since we are not even given basic facilities like chairs, table or restrooms. This is humiliation and unlawful to treat scientists who served the university for the past 30-35 years in various capacities as professors, associate professors, asst professors and other non-teaching staff.”

K. Subhadra, a senior assistant professor, said, “I applied for leave for 12 days as my father expired, but leave was not sanctioned. My salary was deducted for 12 days in spite of my applying for leave.” However, varsity registrar K. Ravinder Reddy denied the allegations. “All these are allegations. We just following court orders. They are also getting leaves, in fact, they are also getting leaves for which they are not eligible. Salaries are being given to them in the first week of every month, we are following court orders to the letter,” he said.