The High Court on Monday granted relief to professor Gali Vinod Kumar by permitting him to contest in the Warangal Lok Sabha by-election. Professor Gali Vinod Kumar who would like to contest in the Warangal Lok Sabha by-election and has sought permission from the varsity to contest in the elections and also sought leave from October 28 to November 11. However, the varsity citing Rule 16 of the OU Conduct Rules has rejected his application and said that Teachers can only contest for the Teachers’ Constituency and if elected they can go on the loss of pay for the entire period.

The university in its letter also explained that his request can be examined by the Executive Council following the norms of the Election Commission of India, University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Government of Telangana. Moreover, it also warned that he would be placed under suspension if the rules were not followed.

Satyam Reddy Sarasani,  the senior advocate, said Prof. Kumar filed his nomination as an independent candidate and the Court has categorically ruled that Prof. Kumar has every right to contest and campaign.

University registrar E Suresh Kumar, said that “University rules do not allow Vinod Kumar or any other working employee to contest any election. He must resign from his job if he has to contest elections.”

The professor has blamed chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for university’s stiff stand against him and told that “The ruling party is afraid of my growing popularity. It failed to convince me to withdraw my nomination. This is nothing but a conspiracy to remove me from the contest.”