By Anisha Sheth
Several teachers and students at Bangalore University have accused the varsity of institutional casteism in various forms and demanded the removal of Vice Chancellor Jayakara Shetty M. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also taken note of the allegations and directed the Secretary for Higher Education to submit a report.
The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Teachers’ Association of Bangalore University wrote to Jayakara Shetty on July 5, detailing the allegations and demanding their immediate rectification.
The allegations levelled against the university include the approval of transfers of professors from other universities to Bangalore University, allegedly in violation of reservation policies, the denial of remuneration and other entitlements for administrative responsibilities, failure to fill vacant posts, and denial of responsibilities to professors from the Scheduled Castes allegedly due to their caste locations and in violation of rules.
The Post-graduate and Research Students’ Federation of Bangalore University extended support to the professors. They wrote to the Chief Minister on July 15, also accusing the VC of institutional casteism through various forms and demanding his removal.
“We condemn these anti-Dalit actions of the university which seek to undermine the dignity of Dalits in a university where a large number of professors are Dalits,” the SC and ST Teachers’ Association said in its letter.
The allegations have raised concerns of institutional casteism, which compounds the effects of casteism on the marginalised, especially in terms of disparities in hiring, promotions, and access to opportunities.
This story was originally published in thenewsminute.com. Read the full story here.