Allegations of violation of reservation policy, depriving SC-ST teachers of responsibilities and irregular transfers. Chief Minister sought report from Higher Education Secretary in 7 days.
Bangalore: Several teachers and students of Bangalore University have made serious allegations of institutional caste discrimination and demanded the removal of Vice Chancellor Jayakar Shetty M. Taking the matter seriously, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed the Higher Education Secretary to investigate the allegations and submit a report within 7 days.
The Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Teachers Association of the university wrote a letter to the Vice Chancellor on July 5, giving a detailed account of the allegations and demanding immediate rectification.
The major allegations include transfer of professors from other universities without sanctioned posts, violation of reservation roster, depriving Scheduled Caste teachers of administrative responsibilities and allowances, and delay in appointments to reserved posts.
On July 15, the university’s postgraduate and research students’ association also wrote to the chief minister, accusing the vice-chancellor of institutional casteism and demanding his removal.
The SC/ST Teachers’ Association said, “We condemn these anti-Dalit actions of the university which hurt the dignity of Dalit teachers.”
Objection to transfer without sanctioned posts
The association says five professors were transferred to Bangalore University without sanctioned posts, affecting appointments and reservation system.
“Such transfers affect the hiring capacity of the university and violate the reservation policy laid down by the Constitution,” said Prof. G. Krishnamurthy, president, SC/ST Teachers’ Association.
State universities get a limited number of sanctioned posts department-wise. If a professor is transferred without a post, the number of vacancies in the university he is sent to decreases — thereby hampering appointments to reserved posts.
The association said that none of the transferred professors belong to the Scheduled Castes or Tribes and it has not yet been decided under which roster they will be placed.
Names of transferred professors:
- Prof. Basavaraj Benne (Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Ballari)
- Prof. Srinath B.S. (Mangalore University)
- Prof. Yerriswamy (Rani Chennamma University)
- Prof. K.S. Chandrasekhariah (Mangalore University)
- Prof. Ashwini K.N. (Karnataka State Akka Mahadevi Women’s University, Vijayapura)
CM Siddaramaiah orders probe
On July 11, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote a letter to Higher Education Secretary K.G. Jagadeesha asking him to investigate the matter and submit a report within 7 days.
In the letter, the Chief Minister admitted that the professors were transferred “without posts” and none of them belong to the SC/ST category, which is a violation of the reservation policy. He also said that 67 professors have demanded the university to clarify the roster and seniority.
Rules ignored in handing over charge too?
The teachers have also alleged that when the Vice Chancellor went on leave, he did not hand over the charge to the senior-most Dean as per Section 16(1) of the Karnataka State University Act 2000.
The Vice Chancellors of Davanagere University, Bengaluru City University and Kuvempu University followed this law and handed over the charge to the senior-most Dean during their leave.
Rajan Chaudhary
Courtesy : Hindi News