“Time To Review Reservation”: LinkedIn Post Attributed to IIT Patna Registrar Sparks Row, Inquiry Begins

Patna- A LinkedIn post attributed to IIT Patna registrar and dean of administration Prof. Awalendra K. Thakur has stirred a controversy at the institute. The post calls for a review of reservation. Following complaints from faculty members and rights activists, the institute has begun an inquiry. Thakur, however, says the post is not his. He has described it as “fake, concocted and doctored.”

What the post said

The post was allegedly shared on Thakur’s LinkedIn account on September 24. It said, “Government of India must think seriously and take action on reviewing reservation and relaxation policy provisioned in the Constitution only for 10 years with scope to review based on facts after 10 years. However, it became a political weapon to create and sustain ‘Vote Bank’ irrespective of parties in power. Right time has come to review this provision in the larger interest of future of youth, societal benefit and strengthening of the country."

The post was visible on Thakur’s LinkedIn account till Monday. Another comment allegedly made about Dalits on Facebook on September 24 is no longer available.

A faculty member of the institute has written to the director about a post that appeared on Thakur’s Facebook account. It read, in Hindi: “Don’t become capable, become a Dalit, success will come chasing you – Indian Constitution.”

In the letter, the faculty member said that, in his view, such a public statement is derogatory towards members of the Scheduled Caste community, ridicules the constitutional protections given to them, and is not in keeping with the dignity, neutrality and responsibility expected of a senior functionary of an Institute of National Importance.

He has demanded that the institute:

• immediately preserve the electronic evidence,

• set up a formal inquiry, and

• initiate disciplinary proceedings under the IIT Patna conduct rules.

The complaint also requests that the matter be referred to the competent statutory or law-enforcement authority for examination under Section 3(1)(u) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. It states clearly that this should be subject to the statutory ingredients of those provisions being satisfied.

The complainant also said that, because Thakur holds senior administrative positions, such a public statement could seriously shake the confidence of SC/ST students, faculty and staff in the impartiality of the administration. He has asked for the inquiry to be conducted by an authority free from any conflict of interest, and has requested that his complaint be treated as urgent and that he be informed of the action taken.

Bahujan Rights activist Anil Wagde, a founding member of the IIM Alumni Global Network, has sent a complaint to IIT Patna chairman T.V. Narendran and director Amit Patra. He wrote that the posts are clearly insulting to the Dalit community and, coming from a professor of the institute, appear to carry its endorsement. He asked both officials what action they intend to take, and demanded strict action against Thakur, including an FIR under the SC/ST Act.

Speaking to The Mooknayak, Nagsen Sonare, national president of the Ambedkar Centre for Justice and Peace (ACJP), called it an “extremely serious” matter and demanded Thakur’s suspension and the registration of an FIR. He said people of the Bahujan community across the country are agitated over the issue. He urged all organisations to come forward and appeal for action to the President of India, who is the Visitor of the institute.

Thakur has denied that the posts are his. According to The Telegraph, he wrote on WhatsApp that they are “fake, concocted, doctored and false.” He added that his adversaries may have created many more such posts of which he is unaware, as he neither indulges in such activity nor takes notice of it. He said he would take action against those who posted the comments in his name.

Director Amit Patra said in a WhatsApp message that the matter was being investigated. “Once the allegation is proved, necessary action will be taken,” he wrote.

The institute’s inquiry into the authenticity of the posts is continuing. The allegations against Thakur have not been proved, and he has rejected them outright. The outcome of the inquiry, and any action by the institute or the competent authorities, are awaited.