Mumbai- Member of Parliament and Mumbai Regional Congress Committee President Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urging the effective implementation of Rules 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16, 17 and 176 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995, framed under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, with particular focus on institutional protection for SC/ST students at IIT Bombay and medical institutions.
In the letter dated 30 September, Gaikwad, who is also chairperson of the relevant parliamentary panel, reminded the state government of its statutory duty to prevent atrocities, provide protection, conduct investigations, assist and rehabilitate victims, and monitor the functioning of related mechanisms.
She specifically called for the full establishment and effective functioning of the State SC/ST Protection Cell (Rule 8) with adequate manpower and monitoring; appointment of a secretary-level Nodal Officer (Rule 9) for coordination; designation of Special Officers where required (Rule 10); strict discharge of statutory duties by District Collectors and Superintendents of Police on prevention, investigation, protection, relief and rehabilitation (Rule 12); constitution and regular meetings of the State-level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee (Rule 16); establishment or reconstitution and regular functioning of District-level Vigilance and Monitoring Committees in all districts (Rule 17); and activation of Sub-Divisional Vigilance and Monitoring Committees (Rule 176) to oversee local complaints and preventive measures.
Highlighting reports of 14 student suicides at IIT Bombay between 2006 and 2026, including those of SC students Aniket Ambhore, Darshan Solanki and Sahil Wakode, Gaikwad clarified that the letter draws no conclusion that caste discrimination was the cause in every case. She nevertheless demanded an independent institutional review of the IIT Bombay SC/ST Cell, grievance redressal mechanisms, anti-discrimination measures, student support systems and statutory protection frameworks in light of the repeated incidents.
She also sought a statewide review of protection mechanisms for SC/ST students in medical and dental colleges, teaching hospitals and hostels, citing the cases of Dr. Payal Tadvi and the more recent case of Dr. Stuti Sonawane, while stressing that any ongoing investigation or judicial process should not be prejudged and that the focus must remain on whether institutional safeguards are effective.
Gaikwad listed concrete steps the government should take: examine the current status of the State SC/ST Protection Cell, Nodal Officer and Special Officers; constitute or reconstitute and ensure regular functioning of state, district and sub-divisional vigilance and monitoring committees; conduct time-bound compliance checks through the Protection Cell and Nodal Officer; independently review IIT Bombay’s SC/ST Cell, grievance and anti-discrimination systems and student protection arrangements; undertake a preventive and institutional review of the 14 recorded student suicides at IIT Bombay from 2006 to 2026; conduct a statewide review of SC/ST protection mechanisms in medical and dental institutions in the light of the Payal Tadvi and Stuti Sonawane cases; direct District Collectors and Superintendents of Police to strictly implement their duties under Rule 12; take appropriate legal action against any government officer found guilty of wilful negligence or failure to discharge statutory duties; and submit a time-bound Action Taken Report on all these points.
She underlined that the purpose of the SC/ST Atrocities Act and Rules is not limited to post-incident criminal action but extends to creating effective systems of prevention, protection, monitoring, accountability, relief and rehabilitation. Given the background of the incidents at IIT Bombay and in medical institutions, she said it is essential to examine the actual implementation and effectiveness of these statutory mechanisms and requested immediate, time-bound directions for action.