PhD scholar hurls shoe at principal

Hyderabad: PhD scholar G. Mahender hurled a shoe at the principal of the University College of Engineering, Prof. M. Kumar, in his cabin, when the principal told him it was not within his jurisdiction to waive the fees of Rs 53,000.

When the principal turned down the request for a fee waiver Mahender hurled a shoe at him.

The principal pressed the emergency button and the staff came to his rescue. Mahinder was very agitated and controlling him took some time, the university said.

The angry faculty members want the appointed committee to give strict punishment to the student.

While his viva has been completed, the certificate of PhD has not been issued yet.

The faculty members of Osmania University met to discuss the incident and concluded that it can’t be brushed under the carpet and the student must be punished.

A committee appointed by the university will study the matter and quantum of punishment. A police complaint has also been filed.

A senior official of OU explained, “Mr Mahender had met the principal several times and requested a waiver of fees. But the student had got a scholarship of Rs 5 lakh. The per month stipend of a PhD scholar is Rs 18,000. These facts were put by the administration before the principal and these had to be considered as waiver cannot be given on incessant request.”