LARKANA, Sept 23: The Vice Chancellor of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Medical University Professor Dr Akbar Haidar Soomro removed Dr Saeed Ahmed Sangi, professor of cardiology, on charges of gross misconduct and placed his services at the disposal of the governor’s secretariat on Friday.

The VC told Dawn that while standing near the university’s Staff Colony mosque after Juma prayers and discussing the colony’s issues with professors, a vehicle moving reverse almost touched his feet. He spaced from it and asked his guards to see who was on the steering, he said, adding that the guards found Professor Sangi in the driving seat.

As soon as one of the guards, Amanullah Soomro, approached the vehicle, Dr Sangi again reversed the vehicle which infuriated the VC an altercation between the VC and the professor aggravated the situation.

Both the professor went to the Rehmatpur police station to lodge a complaint while and the guard, on behalf of the VC, also went to the police station. Both the parties recorded statements against each other, the police said.

Later, the VC issued a letter (SMBBU/PA-576) stating that in exercise of his powers under chapter-II, section 4, clause (XXIV) and (XXXVII) and chapter-II clause 10(2) of SMBBU Act IV of 2008, the service of Dr Saeed Ahmed Sangi, Professor of Cardiology, was being placed at the disposal of the governor’s secretariat, on account of his gross misconduct and mental incapacity in open public on Sept 21, 2012 after Juma prayers.

The order further says, “he stands relieved off from his duties and declared as persona non grata for the college premises”.

Meanwhile, Prof Sangi told Dawn that the VC had no authority to relieve him of his duties as he (Prof Sangi) was a 21-grade employee.

“The clauses and sections which the VC has quoted do not exist in the charter of the university,” he said, adding that he was doing his duties as usual. He said he would file a civil suit against the VC.

Dr Sangi said his car had neither touched the VC or anyone else. Reacting to the VC’s order, Chandka Teachers Association (CTA) rejected the move and called for an inquiry into the affair by a senior professor or a higher level official.

CTA President Dr Badaruddin Junejo said if Professor Sangi was barred from the university, the association would launch a campaign against the VC.