DUTA wants Vice Chancellor to resign over radiation scrap material

New Delhi, May 1 (ANI): The Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) demanded the resignation of Vice Chancellor Deepak Pental after it was let known that the laboratory of the varsity's Chemistry Department had disposed off the radioactive metal as scrap resulting in one death and critical injuries to a couple of other persons.

Speaking to reporters, Aditya Narayan Mishra, President of DUTA said that in the interest of the impartial probe, the Vice Chancellor must step down.

"We request the President to kindly remove him from his office for a fair and impartial inquiry. If the person responsible for these problems is in the office, can we expect fairness about the matter?" Mishra asked.

He further said that DUTA would request President Pratibha Patil to appoint qualified experts who could look into this issue.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said that the experts from the Department of Atomic Energy are probing and analysing the entire issue.

"We are doing that. Even the university people are looking after it. We have also received a statement from the Vice Chancellor. Apart from this, people from the Department of Atomic Energy are looking into it as well, as we don't have such expertise," Dikshit added.

Meanwhile, the Delhi University announced a compensation of Rs eight lakh to the family of the deceased and a job for the widow.

Rajender, 35, a worker at a shop in Mayapuri scrap market, had died due to multiple organ failure this week at AIIMS after being exposed to the radiation. (ANI)