<p>Angered by the alleged foot-dragging over the appointment of the vice-chancellor designate Sudhir Krishnaswamy, students at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) have begun a sit-in protest on the campus and are moving to boycott exams on Monday. </p>.<p>According to student leaders, the protest was catalysed at 9 am on Friday by the news that moves were underway by university administrators to change the composition of the Executive Council (EC), which finalises the appointment of vice-chancellors. </p>.<p>The revelation prompted over 200 students to sit outside the office of the Registrar, O V Nandimath, whom they accuse of stalling Professor Krishnaswamy’s appointment, due to what they claim, is a conflict of interest. </p>.<p>The protests have since continued, resulting in a boycott of all classes, with student leaders declaring that the protests will continue until their three demands are met: the replacement of Nandimath from the secretarial role in the Executive Council, the release of all documents pertaining to the appointment process and the formalisation of the VC appointment.</p>.<p>In an effort to break up the deadlock, the interim vice-chancellor, Professor M K Ramesh, authorised the formation of a sub-committee made up of two students and two faculty members to submit a report on the matter. </p>.<p>“However, when this sub-committee submitted its report, including a determination that the appointment of two new members to the executive council was invalid because they were ineligible, plus a declaration asking the administration to issue a formal notification of the VC appointment, the report was rejected by the administration,” a senior student said. </p>.<p>Students have said that they fear that delays to Professor Krishnaswamy’s appointment were part of a concerted effort to negate his appointment and trigger a fresh round of selection. “By altering the make-up of the EC, the danger is that the administration can appoint a new VC of their choice,” a student said. </p>.<p>The student body announced its intention to continue the protest for as long as possible and said that the bulk of students would boycott term-end exams. </p>.<p>Professor Krishnaswamy was formally designated the next vice-chancellor on August 4, upon recommendation from the executive council. </p>
<p>Angered by the alleged foot-dragging over the appointment of the vice-chancellor designate Sudhir Krishnaswamy, students at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) have begun a sit-in protest on the campus and are moving to boycott exams on Monday. </p>.<p>According to student leaders, the protest was catalysed at 9 am on Friday by the news that moves were underway by university administrators to change the composition of the Executive Council (EC), which finalises the appointment of vice-chancellors. </p>.<p>The revelation prompted over 200 students to sit outside the office of the Registrar, O V Nandimath, whom they accuse of stalling Professor Krishnaswamy’s appointment, due to what they claim, is a conflict of interest. </p>.<p>The protests have since continued, resulting in a boycott of all classes, with student leaders declaring that the protests will continue until their three demands are met: the replacement of Nandimath from the secretarial role in the Executive Council, the release of all documents pertaining to the appointment process and the formalisation of the VC appointment.</p>.<p>In an effort to break up the deadlock, the interim vice-chancellor, Professor M K Ramesh, authorised the formation of a sub-committee made up of two students and two faculty members to submit a report on the matter. </p>.<p>“However, when this sub-committee submitted its report, including a determination that the appointment of two new members to the executive council was invalid because they were ineligible, plus a declaration asking the administration to issue a formal notification of the VC appointment, the report was rejected by the administration,” a senior student said. </p>.<p>Students have said that they fear that delays to Professor Krishnaswamy’s appointment were part of a concerted effort to negate his appointment and trigger a fresh round of selection. “By altering the make-up of the EC, the danger is that the administration can appoint a new VC of their choice,” a student said. </p>.<p>The student body announced its intention to continue the protest for as long as possible and said that the bulk of students would boycott term-end exams. </p>.<p>Professor Krishnaswamy was formally designated the next vice-chancellor on August 4, upon recommendation from the executive council. </p>