An explosive letter, purportedly written by students of the NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, has gone viral among student groups, raising serious allegations of financial irregularities, corruption, administrative negligence, and misconduct by senior officials of the institution. The letter, dated on October 8, addressed to the University Higher Authorities, expresses “deep concern and a genuine sense of responsibility” over what it describes as a growing administrative and moral crisis at one of India’s most prestigious law universities.
The letter, accessed from internal sources, reportedly emerged in the aftermath of the tragic death of a fifth-year student, Sahastranshnu Pandey, which, according to the students, has “shaken the conscience of the entire campus.” The death has reignited debates about the university’s failure to ensure basic health, mental wellbeing, and safety infrastructure on campus.
Quoting from the letter, the students wrote:
“It is not easy for us to raise such issues against a senior officer of the university, but we feel that the way things are being handled by the Registrar has started to seriously affect not only the smooth running of the institution but also our education and well-being. Staying silent at this point would mean ignoring problems that are too big to overlook.”
Allegations of Financial Mismanagement and Nepotism
In the section titled Financial Mismanagement, the students alleged that the university’s finances under the current Registrar’s oversight had been marked by “irregular budget allocations, unexplained expenditures, and lack of transparent financial reporting.”
The letter accuses the administration of eroding NALSAR’s financial reserves, which previously stood at Rs 130 crore, through “sheer incompetence and misplaced priorities.” It also alleges that essential services and infrastructure improvements have suffered, creating uncertainty about the institution’s fiscal health.
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It further raises concerns over conflict of interest in university contracts, stating: “Contracts have allegedly been granted to Kiran Arachualu, the Vice Chancellor’s brother-in-law (associated with Orion Ray), without proper notifications or open tendering processes. This raises concerns of nepotism and misuse of administrative power.”
Another serious allegation involves the Registrar, Professor N. Vasanthi Nimushakavi, whom the letter accuses of “directing various university works and contracts to her husband’s alleged benami vendor, Mr. Venkateshwara Rao.” Students alleged that “significant sums of money are being exchanged between them,” questioning the transparency and fairness of administrative actions.
Student Welfare and Death of Pandey
Citing two incidents that have shaken the student community, the letter recounts: An attempted suicide by a fifth-year student, allegedly triggered by “extreme stress and anxiety due to administrative inefficiencies and lack of proper mental health support.”
The death of Sahastranshnu Pandey, which students claim resulted from “the absence of adequate medical facilities on campus—a basic necessity that the university has failed to provide.”
The letter states: “His passing raises serious questions about the institution’s commitment to student health and safety.”
These incidents, according to students, reflect a pattern of institutional neglect, with inadequate mental health care, poor campus infrastructure, and delays in emergency response.
Neglect of Maintenance, Staff Payments, and Distance Education
The letter highlights the dire state of campus infrastructure, alleging delays in basic maintenance such as hostel repairs, electrical and plumbing work, and building safety. It states that “essential services remain pending for months, severely impacting the daily functioning of the university.”
The students also accuse the administration of non-payment of salaries and benefits to faculty and staff, resulting in “a demoralised workforce and reduced quality of instruction.”
A separate section on the Directorate of Distance Education accuses the administration of causing a financial disaster due to “gross negligence in securing mandatory UGC approvals.” According to the timeline provided:
January 2023: UGC sends first notice requesting compliance documents.
March 2023: Reminder issued; Registrar claims documents are being prepared.
June 2023: Final notice ignored.
September 2023: UGC suspends new admissions.
December 2023: Programme derecognised.
January 2024: Complete shutdown with zero admissions.
The letter claims the failure has caused an annual financial loss of Rs 5 crore, and condemns the administration for “turning the university into a family enterprise rather than a beacon of meritocracy.”
Allegations of Misconduct and Unprofessional Behaviour
The letter also contains severe accusations regarding personal and professional conduct. Students claim that Professor Vasanthi’s “inappropriate personal behaviour” and “unprofessional relationships” with individuals involved in vendor contracts “raise serious ethical concerns.”
Further, it accuses the Registrar’s office of “failing to maintain confidentiality, unprofessional communication, and conduct unbecoming of a university administrator,” stating that these actions have “eroded confidence in the institution’s leadership.”
Impact on Academic Life and Mental Health
The students describe a grim picture of academic life at NALSAR, alleging delays in degree processing, examination management, admissions, and transcript issuance.
They write: “The persistent administrative dysfunction has created significant stress and anxiety among students, faculty, and staff. We have experienced delays in degree processing, examination irregularities, and other administrative bottlenecks that have caused considerable mental and emotional distress.”
The letter questions the Registrar’s professional competence and mental fitness for the role, asserting that her decisions “have raised questions about her ability to effectively and ethically manage the responsibilities of the post.”
Call for Urgent Action
Concluding their appeal, the students warn that continued administrative failure could “jeopardise the stability of the university and the welfare of those who depend on it.”
They write: “We write not from a place of malice, but from genuine concern for our university’s integrity and our collective future. The issues outlined above require urgent attention and decisive action. The reputation and effectiveness of our university depend on strong, ethical, and competent leadership at all levels.”
