HYDERABAD, Oct 21: The embattled vice-chancellor of the Sindh Agriculture University Dr Basheer Ahmed Shaikh who faces a relentless movement by employees, demanding his removal, has again been sent on four-month long leave.

He was earlier sent on 10-day leave and then resumed charge of his office but was unable to sit in his office. He, therefore, started working from ‘his house’.

The decision to send the VC on the 10-day leave was taken at a meeting at the Governor’s House in the wake of deteriorating situation at the agriculture university due to over two-month long campaign for the removal of the VC.

The agitation had brought the academic activities to a grinding halt and led to intervention of Sindh Advocate General Yusuf Leghari on behalf of the governor who is chancellor of all the universities of the province.

Sources said that Dr Shaikh had applied for four month sick leave, which had been sanctioned by the competent authority. A former retired vice-chancellor of the university, Abdul Qadir Mughal, would look after the university’s affairs in his absence and a notification to this effect would be issued on Wednesday, the sources said.

The chairman of the employees’ action committee, Hussain Bux Veesar, described the development as a good omen for the university and said that under no circumstances, the inquiry against him be shelved.

Employees of the university started campaign against the VC over two months ago, accusing him of recruiting his sons, daughters and relatives in the university in violation of all the canons of merit, ethics and eligibility.

The campaign continued despite strong arm tactics by the administration and was later joined by students. Finally the teachers also threw their weight behind the movement.

During the course of the campaign, almost all the political leaders and public figures joined their voice to the chorus for removal of the VC but it appeared their demands and pleas had fallen on deaf ears.

The governor of Sindh took notice of the state of affairs at the university on Sept 7 and appointed Sindh Advocate General Yusuf Leghari as inquiry officer to probe the affairs.