Radiation Incident Fallout Continues

While the Delhi University grounds were being used for the Rugby matches, the offices

of the University saw action of a different kind. The tussle between the Vice-Chancellor

and the DUTA extended itself towards the radiation controversy as well. Readers might

remember that radio-active materials discarded by the University had resulted in the

death of one person and illness to several others.

On October 1, an Executive Council Meeting was held to discuss the report on the

incident. Six elected members on the council held that the meeting could not continue as

the Vice-chancellor’s term of office had expired. They added that as Dr Pental was one

of the accused, he could not, therefore, convene the meeting. At this meeting, DUTA

organised a dharna to protest against the continuation of Dr Pental’s tenure in office

without official sanction from the Visitor.

On the 4th, another meeting of the Executive Committee was held, in which the question

of Dr Pental’s tenure was again raised. Also, there was opposition to the report because

members alleged that the committee that prepared said report was neither selected nor

approved by the Executive Committee. DUTA, meanwhile, accused Dr Pental of hand-

picking the members of the committee to ensure that persons with “personal proximity to

him and to Prof. Parmar, the then Head of the Chemistry department” were on the panel.

The report itself lays the blame on the chemistry department. It therefore holds no person

or persons responsible for the manner of the disposal.

As a consequence of this, there will be another 3 member panel formed that will look into

the incident.

Eeshaan Tiwary

[email protected]