8 Years of Institutional Oppression: MNNIT Adivasi Professor Asks PM Modi —Does the Constitution Not Extend its Protection to ST Citizens?

Allahabad-  In a heart-wrenching open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr. M. Venkatesh Naik, an Assistant Professor from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community at Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) Allahabad, has exposed shocking incidents of caste-based discrimination, institutional neglect, and systematic suppression of his career spanning nearly eight years. His desperate plea raises a fundamental question: "Does the Constitution of India not protect ST citizens? Are tribal communities excluded from its guarantees of justice and equality?"

Dr. Naik, a dedicated faculty member in the Department of Electrical Engineering, joined MNNIT Allahabad on November 30, 2012, under the ST quota, hoping to contribute to India's technical education sector. For years, he earned praise from students for his teaching excellence. However, since 2017, he claims to have faced relentless caste-based harassment, professional sabotage, and administrative indifference.

In January 2025, while his peers from General and SC categories were promoted to Associate Professor (AGP 9500), Dr. Naik's promotion was allegedly blocked without justification. He also alleges that between 2018-2019, he was deliberately denied PhD student allocations and research resources, while colleagues - some from dominant castes - were allotted multiple scholars (five in just two years).

Despite multiple appeals to the MNNIT Director, Board of Governors (BOG) Chairman, and internal SC/ST Cell, no action was taken. Instead, Dr. Naik claims he faced threatening emails, false complaints, and disciplinary notices aimed at silencing him. The SC/ST Cell, meant to safeguard marginalized communities' rights, allegedly remained inactive due to administrative pressure.

In his quest for justice, Dr. Naik approached the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), Ministry of Education, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and even the President's Secretariat. While NCST issued recommendations in his favor, MNNIT authorities allegedly ignored them. Complaints filed on the PG Portal were forwarded to the same officials accused of bias and closed without resolution. Local police reportedly suppressed his FIRs about caste harassment under "influential interference."

The most heartbreaking revelation concerns his legal battle - Dr. Naik claims his own lawyer in the Allahabad High Court misrepresented his case, while the opposing counsel allegedly threatened him for pursuing justice. "Can an ST person with a lawyer not get justice in India?" he asks painfully.

"..this ongoing persecution has caused severe mental agony, professional suffocation, and emotional distress. The injustice I am subjected to is not personal alone it is a systemic failure that jeopardizes the constitutional promise of equality and dignity for Scheduled Tribe citizens. I humbly ask: Does the Constitution of India not extend its protection to ST citizens? Are Scheduled Tribes excluded from its guarantees of justice and equality? Why are the complaints and valid grievances of an ST faculty member systematically ignored while powerful authorities shield one another? Power is protecting power, while powerless Scheduled Tribes are being discriminated against without fear of consequence," the letter reads.

In his letter, Dr. Naik clarifies this isn't just his personal battle but represents every marginalized academic facing similar discrimination. He has requested PM Modi for: immediate backdated promotion as interim relief; a CBI probe into caste discrimination at MNNIT; action against guilty officials; and systemic reforms in central institutions to protect SC/ST rights.