Bangalore/New Delhi- Universities are supposed to be safe spaces for student from all sections. Lately, the multiple cases of injustices are proving otherwise. Keladi Shivappa Nayaka Agriculture and Horticulture University in Shimoga, Karnataka has become a ground for casteist tendencies. From faulty recruitment processes to dependent SC/ST cells, Dalit students’ union have been fighting for an end to injustice for over 9 years now.

The Mooknayak spoke to Rahul, who is a PhD scholar as well as the president of Dr. B R Ambedkar Student Association, Bangalore. The student activist opened up about incidences of discrimination in the university campus and the divisive recruitment drive that is proving to be a hurdle for Dalit aspirants.

Casteism in Agriculture University of Shimoga

Rahul commented, “A state scholarship is provided to SC, ST and OBC students. Before 2021, it used to be credited to the university account, so the administration did not ask for fees directly. But now, it has become a ‘Direct beneficiary Transfer (DBT)’ where the scholarship comes to the students account after which they need to pay the university and hostels. But the thing is, it gets delayed from the government side at times. Even after being in a government institute, the students are being forced to pay before the scholarship gets credited. The commissioner has ordered the universities not to pressurise the students for the fees before the money comes in, but this is not stopping them from asking.” Rahul added, “this is in itself discriminatory because majority of our students are from families who farm. Many are first generation students.”

The casteism does not end there. “We have a directorate of SC/ST cell, but they are not provided with absolute powers. Vice-Chancellor says that the cell will be monitored by the director of education, but they are not giving individual powers to the cell.”

“No student grievance is immediately addressed. If any students, especially the ones from a marginalized community, face an issue, it takes time for the administration to even take notice."

Casteism in Recruitment of Assistant Professors

The student leader opened up about the big scale anti-dalit sentiments that have taken over the administration. He said, “Our fight is against University of Agriculture and Horticulture in Shimoga. In 2013, the university became an autonomous unit, separating itself from University of Agricultural Science, Bangalore. From 2013-2015, no single recruitment happened for assistant professors.”

According to the press release notified on 30th October, 85 Assistant Professor posts following the rules of Roster Order 1987 of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms of the State Government in 2015. In this notification, out of total 85 seats, 41 seats were naturally available to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates in the new University in a subject-wise roster of 11 points. Some vested interests of the University who were unable to tolerate this had cancelled the appointment. Again In 2019, the University notified the appointment of 109 new assistant professors by violating all roster rules. But this time, instead of rostering subject-wise (as a unit), they had considered the entire University as a unit and illogically arranged the departments and made a wrong roster which are opposite to UGC rules and supreme court.

Out of 109 seats, 54 seats which were rightfully allotted for SC/ST candidates which were systematically reduced to 21 seats. Moreover, it is clear in the notification that the Government has used the 100-point roster in accordance with its own interests. Karnataka High Court in 1990, Allahabad High Court in 2018 and Hon’ble Supreme Court has held that subject-wise or department-wise rostering is constitutional. UGC (University Grants Commission) has also instructed to make subject wise roster in 2018.

Rahul said, “Vice-chancellor and registrar has casteist tendencies. The main intention behind this was if many Dalit Adivasi candidates join the university, upper caste students will have to learn from Dalit teachers. By taking a board decision privately, without any prior information, they quashed the first recruitment notice. So, in 2019, they made sure to completely violate the roaster system and consider the university as a unit. 18% reservation was given to SC candidates. When we look at it from outside, it feels like the right representation has been given when in actuality the roaster system was not followed.”

The Director of SC/ST Unit of the same University having noticed violation of law and anti-Dalit act in the notification of the University Dated: 09/11/2018 and 4/02/2019 i.e. before and after the notification, had wrote to the Chancellor and Registrar bringing to his kind notice of violation of roaster system But no actions were taken regarding the same.

Dalit and Backward Classes candidates started a legal battle against the University, which violated all the laws and constitution to cheat the candidates and started a legal battle against the University.

The court had allowed interim and temporary conditional appointment on January 12, 2023, on the plea of shortage of staff in the University.

The Press Release further mentioned, “Taking the matter seriously, the Chief minister of the new Government and the Minister of Social Welfare Department held a joint meeting with all the concerned departments. The Government clarified and clearly mentioned about the violation of the roster rules in the appointment of Assistant Professors in Keladi Shivappa Nayaka Agricultural and Horticulture University, Shimogga. Henceforth the government has taken the decision to withdraw the current appointment and make a fresh notification for new appointment in accordance with the roster rules of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms stating this filed an affidavit to the court on 06/10/2023.”

“In spite of all these developments the present Vice-Chancellor of the University Dr. R. C. Jagdeesha is using conditionally appointed candidates illegally to influence politicians increasing pressure on the Karnataka Government through 'Swamijis of some Manuvadi Mutts' which is highly objectionable. Despite the government direction, the recruitments have not been taken back nor new notices have been issued. “

“In spite of all these developments the present Vice-Chancellor of the University Dr. R. C. Jagdeesha is using conditionally appointed candidates illegally to influence politicians increasing pressure on the Karnataka Government through 'Swamijis of some Manuvadi Mutts' which is highly objectionable. Despite the government direction, the recruitments have not been taken back nor new notices have been issued. “

Moreover, the fact that the Vice-Chancellor has spent in lakhs to appoint several expensive lawyers against the Government and trying to divert the case shows the depth of corruption in this particular appointment.

Protest Against the Recruitment Drive

Rahul expressed, “These kinds of recruitments do not happen often. 109 posts are a big deal, among them, if 54 seats are missing for the Dalit candidates, it will mean our whole generation will be left in the dark. Getting an assistant professor post is a life-changing event in everyone’s life, especially the marginalized community.”

He said, “We have called prof Hariram, Chetan and various leaders from Dalit Sangharsha Samiti and they have supported us. Student Association is being supported by other such assosciations from Bangalore University and Mysore University. Dalit students from agricultural universities have shown solidarity to our case too. According to the press release, we were supposed to protest on 4th November, but a court hearing has been scheduled on 6th November. After the hearing is done, we will make a decision accordingly and organize a protest on a much bigger scale, calling on leaders from all over the nation.”

Demand of the Student Unions

Hundreds of Dalit and Backward Class having supreme degree Ph.D.’s who have been cheated in both University appointments (41+54), lost the age limit opportunity for Assistant professor post ultimately pushing them to the streets. The Press release states, “Therefore, the Government should consider this matter as a serious case and take all possible steps to ensure that dalit and backward class candidates get constitutional rights at the earliest.”

The student leader then talked about their wish. “When the Government itself has accepted the appointment has violated reservation policies and stepped wrong. Hence the Anti-Dalit Vice-chancellor Dr. R. C. Jagadeesha, Registrar Dr. K. C. Shashidhar and other members of the Governing Body under 1989 SC/ST Atrocities Act, we request the State Government and the Governor to immediately arrest him under the act and keep him under suspension till the final court verdict. Otherwise this University will set a wrong example and may also influence the other universities in violation of reservation policies snatching the of opportunities of dalit and backward class candidates and keep them away from the universities forever.”