DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
JAMMU, Jan 12
We, the members of joint action committee of SC/ST/OBC organizations of reserved category feel privileged to address the media persons regarding caste based discrimination with Dr. Ritu Singh. She was appointed as assistant professor at Daulat Ram College as she was selected for a post through procedure for vacancy reserved for Scheduled caste category. However after a year she was terminated from the post in August 2020. Dr. Ritu Singh said that termination came as a result of her caste identity and college Principal Savita Roy discriminated against her because she was dalit. Soon after termination in 2020 she resorted to protest for ten days outside the college but had to discontinue due to widespread of Covid-19. Dr. Ritu Singh continued the legal battle and matter reached the court. The way by which Dr. Ritu Singh and other demonstrators were removed from place of protest was unjust, undemocratic. Delhi police detained Dr. Ritu Singh and removed protest tent and belonging of Ritu Singh and other protestors.
While briefing the media persons Sham Lal Basson President all J&K Dalit Chetna Manch said that torturing, harassment and caste based discrimination lead to institutional murders like Rohith Vemula who ended his life on 17th Jan. 2016 at Hyderabad University due to caste based discrimination. Payal Tadvi from ST community was tortured, harassed and she committed suicide on 22nd may 2019 at Topiwala National Medical College in Maharashtra due to caste based discrimination. Prof. Chander Shekhar from Jammu University was tortured harassed and he committed suicide in September 2022. The report of SIT is still awaited. Dr. Nita wife of Prof Chander could not get justice till date. Prof. Samar Veer is another example of suicide in university campus Prof. Sammar veer ended his life after he could not sustain the departure of his academic life. Basson further said that Prof (Dr.) Laxman Yadev after almost 14 years service as prof in Hindi department at Zakir Husain Delhi College was removed abruptly. Laxman Yadav’s termination was premeditated. Prof Narendra singh has demanded termination of Prof. Dr. Laxman Yadav. Neither Laxman Yadav was seen propagating his ideology in the college promises nor was he accused of any misconduct. His rational thinking, Scientific temperament communitarium and multicultural values were against the ruling estabilishment. It is pertinent to mention here that after removal of tent and belongings of Dr. Ritu singh former Prof. of Delhi University and other protestors, the Dharna place was purified with Gangajal by the so called people of Delhi University. This shows the mentally of high intellectual persons of Delhi University. One can gauge the height of discrimination in Indian Universities. The representation of the students hailing from disadvantaged groups (SC,ST,OBC) can be understood through the landmark reports like the Sachar Committee Report and Thorat Committee Report.
Prof. N. Sukumar brought before us the brilliant work about institutional discriminations in his book titled “Caste Discrimination and exculsion in Indian universities”.
Those who addressed and joined press conference included prof. C.L Shivgotra, advocate Rajat Ramit Gautam, Sunita Bangotra, Krishna thappa, Savita dhupper, Neelam Sambyal, Er. Ramesh Bhasin, Er. Joginder paul, prof. Kali Dass, R.D. Thapa, Surinder Devgowda, Lokinder Singh Ravi, Pawan Kumar Loni, Janak Raj Thapa, Dev Raj Angral, Mangal Angral, Ramesh Angral, Ajay Thapa, Gouri Angral, Dr. Buti Ram, Sham Lal Kundal, Gourav Ravidisia, Madan Lal Thapa, Ajay Kumar Memina, Sudesh Kumar, Surjeet Singh heer, Bahadur Lal, Bawa Ram, Neelam Kumari and others.
