HYDERABAD: Seyed E. Hasnain, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad, has decided to demit office on March 31 though he has another three months to go for the completion of his extended term. He will join the IIT-Delhi as a Professor.

Though Prof. Hasnain had completed his five-year term last December, but was given an extension of three months (till the end of June this year). In an email sent to the UoH faculty members, non-teaching staff, and students, he revealed his intentions to leave the office and join IIT-Delhi on April 1.

Prof. Hasnain's term was a mix of academic achievements and controversies. His plan to offer 200 acres of land to Care Hospitals to jointly set up a health care research centre met with stiff resistance from staff and students and had to be cancelled. However, several new projects such as TIFR centre and National Museum of Statistics were set up during his tenure for carrying out high quality research.

Speaking to The Hindu, Prof. Hasnain said that his biggest achievement was to make the faculty feel that they were not constrained in their academic pursuits.

The budget too had been increased from Rs. 16.5 crore to more than Rs. 400 crore during his tenure.