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Working For The Rights & Survival Of The Oppressed

Editor: NAGARAJA.M.R… VOL.10 issue.04…… .27/01/2016

JUDGEs or Brokers of Justice ?

https://sites.google.com/site/sosevoiceforjustice/judges-or-brokers-of-justice

PIL - Atrocities against Dalits by Government of Karnataka & Others

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA ORIGINAL JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. OF 2015

IN THE MATTER OF

NAGARAJA . M.R

editor SOS e Clarion of Dalit & SOS e Voice for Justice
# LIG 2 , No 761 ,, HUDCO First Stage , Laxmikantanagar ,
Hebbal , Mysore – 570017 , Karnataka State
.
....Petitioner

Versus

Cabinet Secretary , Government of India , Chief Secretary , Government of Karnataka & Others

....Respondents

PETITION UNDER ARTICLE 12 to ARTICLE 35 & ARTICLE 51A OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA FOR ISSUANCE OF A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS UNDER ARTICLE 32 & ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA.

To ,
Hon'ble The Chief Justice of India and His Lordship's Companion
Justices of the Supreme Court of India. The Humble petition of the
Petitioner above named.

MOST RESPECTFULLY SHOWETH :
1. Facts of the case:
"Power will go to the hands of rascals, , rogues and freebooters. All Indian leaders will be of low calibre and men of straw. They will have sweet tongues and silly hearts. They will fight among themselves for power and will be lost in political squabbles . A day would come when even air & water will be taxed." Sir Winston made this statement in the House of Commons just before the independence of India & Pakistan. Sadly , the forewarning of Late Winston Churchill has been proved right by some of our criminal , corrupt public servants.

In Karnataka dalits are oppressed in various ways by the influential people ,

1. In the recruitment process at Karnataka State Open University , vice chancellor / vested interests recruited unfit candidates belonging to their own community sidelining the deserving dalit candidates .

2. In the recruitment process at Mysore University , vice chancellor / vested interests recruited unfit candidates belonging to their own community sidelining the deserving dalit candidates .

3. In the recruitment process at Hassan , Mandya , Mysore & Shimoga Medical Colleges , vested interests recruited unfit candidates belonging to their own community sidelining the deserving dalit candidates .

4. In the recruitment process of KPSC for gazetted officers , vested interests recruited unfit candidates belonging to their own community sidelining the deserving dalit candidates .

5. In Karnataka , many privately managed Industrial Training Institutes , Polytechnics have mushroomed and are getting state government grant. The managements have recruited people belonging to their own communities completely disregarding the recruitment rules of the government. Still they are enjoying government grant without any legal prosecution of those guilty.

6. The Karnataka government officials immediately evict temporary hutments built by tribals , dalits on government land and demolish those hutments. Whereas they allow huge buildings , complexes to be built on government land by influential upper caste people. The government has kept those illegal buildings intact for years , allowed the encroachers to earn lakhs of rupees and now in the process of regularizing those illegal encroachments.

The honourable governor of Karnataka , instead of taking legal action and legally prosecuting the guilty has taken side with the guilty themselves. He has approved AKRAMA SAKRAMA scheme of the government , no action was taken against vice chancellors of KSOU & Mysore University, etc. This is nothing but indirect way of atrocities against dalits , by supporting perpetrators of atrocities.

As a result , Since years unfit people are working as KAS officers , unfit people are working in KSOU , Mysore University , Unfit people are working in medical colleges of Madya / Hassan / Mysore / Shimoga and earning thousands of rupees monthly salary. Influential upper caste people are earning lakhs of rupees as rent from land encroachments and are on the verge of becoming legal owners of encroached lands.

Even in other states also Dalits are oppressed. See the recent suicide of doctoral student in University of Hyderabad , few moths back we saw dalit atrocity in IIT Chennai.

The poor dalits although talented & deserving are without seats , facilities in educational institutions , jobs , without livelihood & shelter.

2. Question(s) of Law:
Are NOT Dalits , citizens of India ? Don’t Dalit’s have constitutional rights & human rights to be treated equally ? Why not criminal prosecution of high & mighty practicing dalit atrocities ?

3. Grounds:
Requests for equitable justice , Protection of Fundamental & Human Rights of all DALITs.

4. Averment:

Corrupt people within Government of Karnataka are violating government norms during recruitment various educational institutions and while demolishing illegal structures. Hereby , I do request the honorable supreme court of India to consider this as a PIL for : “writ of Mandamus” and to issue instructions to the concerned public servants in the following cases to perform their duties.

PRAYER:
In the above premises, it is prayed that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased:

(i) Hereby , I do request the honorable supreme court of India to consider this as a PIL for : “writ of Mandamus” and to issue instructions to the concerned public servants in the following cases to perform their duties.

(ii) To criminally prosecute government of Karnataka chief secretary & governor of Karnataka , for all the above mentioned recruitment scandals , for their failure of duties.

(iii) To immediately evict land encroachers & prosecute them irrespective of the caste they belong to. Only eviction of dalits , tribals , downtrodden people & demolition of hutments belonging to them while sparing big buildings belonging to rich , influential forward caste people should not be done.

(iv) To annul the moves by Government of Karnataka to regularize big illegal structures built by rich , influential forward caste people without rehabilitating the evicted dalits , tribals , downtrodden. To declare it as illegal.

(v) To recover monetary gains made by the encroachers.

(vi) To terminate the services of unfit candidates selected in the above mentioned recruitment processes.

(vii) To legally prosecute the recruiting authority officials in all the above recruitments.

(viii) To make proper appointments with due consideration to dalits , backward class people in all the above institutions , as per law.

(ix) To pass such other orders and further orders as may be deemed necessary on the facts and in the circumstances of the case.

(x) To take action against those responsible for atrocities against Dalits in University of Hyderabad & IIT Chennai.

FOR WHICH ACT OF KINDNESS, THE PETITIONER SHALL BE DUTY BOUND, EVER PRAY.

Kindly read full details at following web page :

https://sites.google.com/site/eclarionofdalit/pil---dalit-atrocities-by-government-of-karnataka

Dated : 19^TH January 2015……………………………………….. FILED BY: NAGARAJA.M.R.

Place : Mysuru , India………………………….. …………………..PETITIONER-IN-PERSON

Rohit Vemula. Twitter/@akslal

University of Hyderabad student suicide: Atrocities case against university administration

HYDERABAD: Cyberabad police breached the student cordon at New Research Scholars' (NRS) hostel in University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Monday morning and shifted the body of PhD scholar Vemula Rohit to Osmania General Hospital for post-mortem. Meanwhile, based on the complaints lodged by the university authorities and the students, police registered two separate cases against university administration.

Rohit was one of the five dalit research scholars expelled by the university administration from the campus hostel following a intra student skirmish and since past fortnight, Rohit was protesting at the campus along with other students against the expulsion. On Sunday afternoon Rohit hung himself at room number 207 in NRS Hostel and left a five page suicide note.

After the suicide, students began a protest at the hostel and did not allow police to shift the body. Students alleged that the suicide of Rohit was a result of local BJP leadership's vendetta politics and they cited union minister of state Bandaru Dattatreya and others as responsible for the young research scholar's death.

At 7 am, a posse of over 100 cops wearing anti-riot gear breached the student cordon at NRS hostel by using force including mild lathi charge and shifted Rohit's body to Osmania General Hospital for post-mortem.

Talking to media personnel at the university, Rohit's mother Radhika said that her son was a meritorious student and university administration is responsible for his suicide. "I want the university Vice Chancellor P Appa Rao to explain why my son has to commit suicide," Radhika said.

After the body was shifted for the post-mortem, students began a protest at the administrative block of the university demanding that the VC should appear before them.

Meanwhile, Madhapur ACP M Ramana Kumar said that Gachibowli police have registered two separate cases in relation to the incident.

"We have registered a suspicious death case under section 174 of CrPC based on the complaint lodged by NRS Hostel warden about the student suicide and based on the complaint lodged by university student Prashant a case was registered under the SC&ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and section 306 (abetment to commit suicide) of the IPC against university administration," the ACP said.

TV9 News: Karnataka CET Medical Seat Allotment Scandal Exposed

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG5hVPw0vnQ ,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKh-YWueYak ,

To,

Honourable Chief Justice of India ,

c/o Registrar,

Supreme Court of India,

New Delhi.

Honourable sir ,

Subject : - PIL Appeal To Honorable Supreme court of India For Writ of Mandamus

ATROCITIES AGAINST DALITS IN KARNATAKA BY HONOURABLE GOVERNOR OF KARNATAKA

In Karnataka dalits are oppressed in various ways by the influential people ,

2. In the recruitment process at Mysore University , vice chancellor / vested interests recruited unfit candidates belonging to their own community sidelining the deserving dalit candidates .

4. In the recruitment process of KPSC for gazetted officers , vested interests recruited unfit candidates belonging to their own community sidelining the deserving dalit candidates .

5. The Karnataka government officials immediately evict temporary hutments built by tribals , dalits on government land and demolish those hutments. Whereas they allow huge buildings , complexes to be built on government land by influential upper caste people. The government has kept those illegal buildings intact for years , allowed the encroachers to earn lakhs of rupees and now in the process of regularizing those illegal encroachments.

The poor dalits although talented & deserving are without jobs , without livelihood & shelter.

Hereby , we appeal to Honourable Supreme Court of India ,

1. To criminally prosecute government of Karnataka chief secretary & governor of Karnataka , for all the above mentioned recruitment scandals , for their failure of duties.

2. To immediately evict land encroachers & prosecute them.

3. To recover monetary gains made by the encroachers.

4. To terminate the services of unfit candidates selected in the above mentioned recruitment processes.

5. To legally prosecute the recruiting authority officials in all the above recruitments.

6. To make proper appointments with due consideration to dalits , backward class people in all the above institutions.

Date : 01.02.2014 Your’s sincerely,

Place : Mysore Nagaraja. M . R.

KPSC scam: Hiremath urges CID for report

Convener of the Jan Sangram Parishad and social activist S.R. Hiremath on Friday urged the CID, which is probing the Karnataka Public Service Commission scam, to submit its final report at the earliest.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Hiremath said the CID was yet to complete its final report even four months after the submission of the interim report. Though he was full of praise for the comprehensive manner in which the interim report was prepared, he said action against the guilty could not be initiated based on that alone.

He urged the government to show its commitment to providing clean and corruption-free administration by taking action against KPSC former chairman Gonal Bhimappa and others allegedly involved in the scam. He demanded that charge sheets should be filed against them, besides arresting them. He also demanded that assets disproportionate to their known sources of income should be confiscated by the government. “The intention is to not only bring the guilty to book, but also to prevent recurrence of such incidents,” he said.

He urged the government to cleanse the KPSC by remodelling it on the lines of the Union Public Service Commission.

Expressing concern over the allegations that bribes to the tune of Rs. 70 lakh to Rs. 1.5 crore had been collected from the candidates by the KPSC members to give them posts of assistant commissioners, Mr. Hiremath said this would affect the fabric of the State administration.

CID submits report on KPSC recruitment scam

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which carried out a probe into the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment scam, submitted its report to the Government on Wednesday.

The State Government had ordered a CID inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the selection of candidates for Gazetted Probationers Group A and B posts by the KPSC earlier this year. The Government order came after several candidates complained of corruption in the selection process.

CID sources said the inquiry report was submitted by the Director-General of Police, CID, Bipin Gopalakrishna, to the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary, Government of Karnataka. A copy of the report was also submitted to Director- General and Inspector-General of Police Lalrokhuma Pachau.

CID sources say that a draft chargesheet will be submitted to the government in a week's time to seek sanction for prosecution of the public servants mentioned in the report. After the government approval is received, a formal chargesheet will be submitted to the court.

The CID probe began after the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) lodged a complaint with the Vidhana Soudha police against a KPSC member, Mangala Sridhar, and her personal assistant for demanding bribe from an aspirant. The FIR also included the names of former KPSC Chairman Gonal Bhimappa, and two engineers of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).

The FIR was filed following a complaint by Mythri, an MD in Paediatrics and the topper in the ST category in the KAS exams, who had alleged that she was given low marks in the interview after she refused to heed the demand by a KPSC member for a bribe of Rs. 70 lakh for getting the post of Assistant Commissioner (Revenue).

U R Ananthamurthy May Write to Prez over Appointment of V-Cs

The controversy over the appointment of Davangere University vice-chancellor may reach the President of India. Dr U R Ananthamurthy, Chairman of the Search Committee constituted for the selection of vice-chancellor, is thinking of writing to President Pranab Mukherjee over the way the V-Cs are being appointed in the State.

Reacting to the controversy, Ananthamurthy told Express, “I will speak to the Chief Minister about the issue. I want the Chief Minister to take the up the issue, and if he doesn’t, I will take up the issue to President.”

“I know that we cannot change the appointment which is already made. But my wish is it should not happen in other appointments,” Murthy said.

He said he is disappointed with the way some members of the Search Committee behaved. “Some members wanted to send four names in the panel, which is against the rule. When I suggested a senior Kannada professor’s name, one of the members said, we need a person who is capable of bringing money from corporate sector as V-C and not the one who studied literature,” he said.

According to Murthy, some members had decided on who should be the V-C. “It is really an insult to me. I wanted the process to be transparent and merit-based. The Chancellor did not consult the government while issuing the order and the government’s consent was not taken,” he said.

However, when contacted, Prof N S Ramegowda, Governor’s nominee in the committee questioned Murthy’s stand.

“Once the panel report is submitted to the government, the responsibility and the role of the search committee ends. The final decision lies with the Governor as per rules. The Chairman of the committee did not raise any objection when the names were finalised. Why is he going to government now for one person. Is it not lobbying?”

“It’s between the government and Governor. The committee’s work is over,” he remarked.

CM Favours One Candidate, Guv Appoints Another

The Search Committee, headed by Jnanpith awardee and former V-C of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, U R Ananthamurthy decided to conduct interviews before finalising names for the V-C’s post. The committee met in the first week of November, shortlisted 16 candidates and asked them to come for an interview on December 17 with powerpoint presentations about their views.

After the interview, the committee finalised three names. The first name was Dr Janardhan, second was Dr L Gomathi Devi and the third was Dr B B Kalival. It submitted the list to the government.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah personally examined this list and considering the social justice and merit, he approved Gomathi Devi’s name and forwarded it to Governor and Chancellor. But on Saturday, without consulting the government or the CM, the Governor issued the appointment order by approving Kalival’s name.

‘I am Hurt’

Reacting to these developments, Gomathi Devi said, “I am really hurt with this. But I cannot question the decision of the Chancellor. I can say that I was capable and eligible (for the post).”

Governor seeks inquiry into Karnataka State Open University irregularities

MYSORE: Based on a request from department of higher education, the governor had directed the ?Governor seeks inquiry, Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) VC to inquire and submit a report on the alleged irregularities in the university on six counts. Issues which should be inquired into include marks card scandal and appointment of 21 regional directors causing illegal expenditure to the university to the tune of Rs 2 crore per annum.

Governor's secretary in his letter written on behalf of the former to KSOU VC had claimed that governor has directed him to seek comments if any in the matter in respect of six allegations.

First allegation is about marks card scandal in which the authorities under the supervision of deputy registrar have tampered the marks cards of degree students. "There are more than 300 incidents of tampering since 2006 to 2010," the letter noted adding that though a couple of officials have been sent home, deputy registrar HL Vishwanath under whose supervision the scandal took place has continued in his service and promoted to registrar's post.

Another major allegation is temporary appointment of 21 regional directors in violation of section 2(9) (3) of the general recruitment statute 2004 of Karnataka Universities Act and hiking their salaries resulting in serious financial burden on the varsity. Appointment and continuation of 21 regional directors is per se illegal, the letter said adding that the action has to be initiated against the concerned accused persons.

Letter also pointed out that KSOU illegally regularized the services of 28 temporary assistant professors in violation of the appointment norms, rules and regulations and these appointments are in contradiction of the UGC rules and directly contravened the Apex court judgment, the letter pointed out.

Letter revealed the bizarre violation of the rules by KSOU authorities in promotion of an electrician and a water supply operator as junior engineers.

Letter raised the issue of mass copying by students in the examinations and said action of the university to open centres outside Karnataka is in direct contravention of the Supreme court judgment in Yashpal case suggesting a detailed inquiry into it.

Governor said VC should send his comments on the issues raised in the letter with in 30 days and if he fails to respond he will be free to take appropriate decision on the irregularities on the basis of the records. These irregularities took between 2006 and 2013.

Hassan , Mysore , Mandya & Shimoga Medical College Recruitment scam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qh1QKincqA

Javare Gowda draws flak for ‘misusing' fast

Gandhiji's motives were altruistic, not Javare Gowda's: Chandrashekar Patil

MYSORE: Former president of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat Chandrashekar Patil has lashed out at writer and former Mysore University Vice-Chancellor D. Javare Gowda for defending his son J. Shashidhar Prasad in the university recruitment scandal episode.

Prof. Javare Gowda went on a fast in the city on Wednesday and defended Prof. Prasad, who is at the centre of a controversy surrounding the recruitment process in the university. Prof. Prasad was also Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mysore.

A one-man commission probed the recruitment scandal and pronounced Shashidhar Prasad guilty of violating University Grants Commission recruitment norms. But Governor H.R. Bhardwaj, who is also the Chancellor of the university, stayed criminal proceedings against Prof. Prasad on the grounds that it was illegal.

This resulted in vociferous reactions by students and staff of the varsity.

Pained by the series of agitations, Prof. Javare Gowda said the recruitment of candidates was approved by the university Syndicate and the Registrar, and hence, all had to shoulder collective responsible for the process.

This stance has incensed teachers.

Prof. Patil, who addressed a press meet here on Thursday, criticised the move to undertake the fast. “Being a senior writer, Prof. Javare Gowda should have maintained a dignified silence instead of blindly defending his son. Mahatma Gandhi used fasting as an instrument to pursue a noble cause, but Prof. Javare Gowda used it to serve a selfish end,” he said.

Prof. Patil, along with film actor Lohitashwa, staged a demonstration at Gandhi Square in condemnation of the fast.

Mr. Lohitashwa said the Governor should direct the Government to invoke the provisions of law against Prof. Shashidhar Prasad and uphold the sanctity of the University of Mysore.

Prof. Patil also took a dim view of a few writers who supported Prof. Javare Gowda and said the latter's love for his son was understandable, but the support of the writers was incomprehensible. Prof. Patil said if those responsible for violating recruitment norms in the university were not punished, a Statewide agitation would be launched.

ABVP plans Manasagangothri bundh tomorrow

Mysore, August 14, DH News Service:

Akhila Bharathiya Vidyarthi Parishat (ABVP) has called for Manasagangotri bundh on August 16 urging the State Government to file a criminal case against former vice-chancellor of University of Mysore, Prof Shashidhar Prasad for recruiting 162 persons by flouting rules and regulations.

In a press release here, K Vasanthkumar, divisional organising secretary of Mysore Division of ABVP said Prof Shashidhar Prasad, during his tenure, filled up 162 posts in teaching and non-teaching categories by not following any prescribed rules and regulations.

This is a biggest scandal and has been a black spot in the history of University of Mysore. The deserving candidates belonging to the SC/ST, backward classes and minorities, had been denied jobs. An committee headed by retired judge of Karnataka High Court, H Rangavittalachar, constituted to probe the allegations, has given a report that irregularities has been committed in the appointment of 161 persons. Besides, the committee had stated that roster has not been violated by the varsity.

Subsequently, the government directed the varsity authorities to book a criminal case against Prof Shashidhar Prasad.

He said later, the incumbent Governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj, has written a letter to the vice-chancellor, Prof V G Talawar not to book criminal case against Prof Shashidhar Prasad. The governor who talks of corruption in mining, is trying to shield Prof Shashidhar Prasad who has been indicted by the inquiry commission. This has given room suspicion about the style of functioning of the chancellor’s office.

He said their demands are; filing criminal case against Prof Shashidhar Prasad, cancellation of all 162 appointments done by him, starting recruitment process afresh, action against members of Academic council and Syndicate who were equally responsible for recruitment.

The ABVP has planned post card campaign on this issue. It has requested all the students to send post cards to President Pratibha Patil seeking her intervention and directing the government to proceed with the criminal case against Prof Shashidhar Prasad.

Probe into lapses in medical college recruitment

Guilty will be punished, says Sharan Prakash Patil, Medical Education Minister, Karnataka.

Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil has said that he will order a time-bound probe into the alleged irregularities in the recruitment process in government medical colleges in Hassan and Mysore two years ago.

It is alleged that posts in the these medical colleges were filled during the tenure of Ramachandre Gowda as Minister for Medical Education in the BJP government without approval from the Finance Department.

Dr. Patil told presspersons here on Tuesday that Mr. Ramachandre Gowda resigned following the controversy but the officials concerned were not booked. Though an inquiry by the then Additional Chief Secretary was ordered, it did not take off as the officials had retired by then, he added. “I was surprised by the way the issue was handled. I will apply my mind and order a time-bound probe. The guilty will be punished,” he said.

Similarly, another scam — the submission of fake certificates in the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) — would be handed over to the Lokayukta, to abide by the recommendation of the committee headed by Gururajan, he said.

It is alleged that four senior staff members of MIMS produced fake experience certificates to get jobs in violation of regulations.

On the Rajiv Gandhi Super-Speciality Hospital Raichur, popularly known as OPEC hospital, which was closed down a year ago, he said that the government was particular about retaining the hospital in the government sector.

“If there is a technical problem, then will we think of having a private partnership,” he said.

Efforts are on to revive the hospital. A report had been sought from the hospital director on the condition of building and medical equipment. “Based on the report, the building would be refurbished. A sum of Rs. 1.20 crore has been set aside for this,” he said.

A walk-in interview would be held to fill vacant posts, he added.

With the contract between Apollo Hospitals and the government expiring, OPEC hospital closed down on June 1, 2012.

Eight persons accused in Dalit atrocity case in jail

The Nangli police in Kolar district on Wednesday arrested all the eight persons accused in a recent case of atrocities on Dalits at Kagganahalli in Mulbagal taluk. All of them were produced before court which remanded them in judicial custody till February 6, Mulbagal Deputy Superintendent of Police T. Siddaiah told The Hindu . The arrested were lodged in the sub-jail here. The situation in the village is peaceful now, Mr. Siddaiah added.

The Nangli police registered a case following a caste abuse complaint lodged by Nagabhushan, one of the members of four families which were facing boycott, on January 21.

Shankara Reddy, Keshavappa, Suresh, Krishna Reddy, Anjaneya Reddy, Srinivas, Narayanaswamy and Munivenkata Reddy are the arrested. A police team arrested the accused when they were on their way to get bail from court.

Boycott

Four Dalit families of Kagganahalli accused that upper caste people imposed a social boycott on them, prompting Social Welfare Minister H. Anjaneya to visit the village a couple of days ago. Mr. Anjaneya then warned that social evils such as boycott of Dalits cannot be tolerated and that action would be taken against the culprits.

MLA G. Manjunath, Inspector-General of Police of Civil Rights Enforcement Directorate Nanjundaswamy, Deputy Commissioner D.K. Ravi and Superintendent of Police Ram Nivas Sepat accompanied Mr. Anjaneya.

PRACTICE OF UNTOUCHABILITY BY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN INDIA
- VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF DALITS

In india , rich people belonging to forward castes form educational trusts , proclaiming that they want to serve the society by providing education to all irrespective of caste or creed. By this declaration they get Civic Amenity sites from government authorities at concessional rates. Further they get tax , duty
exemptions on materials , machines they import for the educational institution. However , while admitting students they are purely commercial minded , the highest bidder gets the seats.

IF AT ALL THE SOLE AIM OF THESE INSTITUTIONS IS COMMERCIAL – LET THEM BE REGISTERED AS COMMERCIAL BODIES , ASK THEM TO GET SITES AT COMMERCIAL MARKET RATES , ASK THEM TO PAY TAXES ON
MATERIALS , MACHINES & THEIR YEARLY INCOME. ENFORCE MINIMUM WAGES ACT , GRATUITIES ACT , P.F & ESI ACT TO THESE INSTITUTIONS WHO ARE PAYING A PITTANCE TO THEIR STAFF.

Some institutions like industrial training institutes ( I.T.I) , polytechnics , engineering colleges & medical
colleges run by trusts floated by forward castes lack basic infrastructure , to teach students properly , they only appoint staff belonging to thier castes. Dalits , minorities , weaker section people are not at all selected. They don't publicly advertise for vacancies. They fill all posts with thier own caste people & finally even get government grant in aid. How ? These institutions are getting affiliations , yearly approvals form the government , how ? actually they should have been shut. These trusts want government backing for tax exemptions , lands at concessional rates ,monetary benefits , etc , however the same trusts are not willing to implement the social welfare objectives of the government , by providing seats to weaker sections , by providing appointments to dalits few posts in all category of positions ( not just group D - dalits are also brilliant & capable of performing all jobs, they have proved it ).

Hereby , we urge honourable prime minister of india , government of india & honourable chief minister of karnataka , government of karnataka to :

1. before giving lands at concessional rate , tax exemptions , to any educational trusts the government must ensure that the trust must adhere to the social welfare norms of the government from day one.
2. Before giving affiliations to educational institutions the govt must ensure , are the institutions are providing sufficient infrastructure to students ?
3. Before giving grant in aid to any institution , the government must ensure have the management provided jobs to dalits , minorities , etc as per norms from the day one . if not grant in aid should be
rejected. Here there is no meaning in giving reservation of jobs in future appointments in those institutions , as all the posts are presently filled with forward castes , there is no expansion projects.
So , dalits have to wait for another 30-40 years to get the vacancies in those institutions after the retirement of forward caste employees , which is not at all practical or realistic .
4. In karnataka state , numerous Industrial Training Institutes ( ITI) have mushroomed , some don't even have basic infrastructure. Still they are running the show , how ? these ITIs run by forward caste people have appointed only their caste people to all posts , not even a single dalit is there. Still they have got government grant in aid , how ? we urge honourable chief minister of karnataka , to look into this & in future to provide grant in aid in aid to only those I.T.Is which have proper infrastructure & dalits , weaker section employees on their pay-rolls.
5. To order all educational institutions to make public announcement of vacancies in their institutions even though not covered under grant in aid , as they have already taken sufficient monetary
benefits from the government.
6. To order all educational institutions , to admit students as per government rates of fees. Some institutions are fleecing higher fees from the students , but are giving receipts for lesser amount only.
7. If any educational institutions don't agree with the government norms , those institutions must be asked to be registered as commercial bodies , no tax exemptions , lands at concessional rates ,
allotment of CA sites should be given to them by the government.

By these measures alone poor & weaker section people will get justice . you are aware of merited but poor students committing suicides year after year , CET fiasco - due to their financial inability to join medical or engineering colleges. Numerous similar cases are there with regard to admission to ITIs .
polytechnics. The greed & casteism of these educational institutions is reigning high. In the positive hope that you will be kind enough to put an end to this menace.

ELIMINATE MANUAL SCAVENGING BUT NOT SCAVENGERS

- an appeal to honourable supreme court of India

In India, since independence certain affirmative actions by the government like job reservations , reservations in educational institutions , loan facilities , etc are extended to the backward class , oppressed people. However , the persons who have economically, socially become stronger on the basis of these government affirmative actions are not letting their own brethren – scavenging community to utilize the same. The politicians are just making noises about sub caste reservation for scheduled castes & tribes , but doing nothing. As a result , today we find some sub-castes & tribes of SC / ST better off than their previous generation, some other sub-castes & tribes of SC / ST are reeling under utter poverty , social ostracism , etc.

A human being can be in a civilized form , healthy - if we have scavengers to clean our toilets , drainages , if we have barbers to cut our hairs. The very same people who keep us healthy & civilized are not treated in a civilized manner by the society , why ? most of the town municiapalities , city corporations are employing scavengers on daily wages without any statuotary benefits & are paid less than the statuotary minimum wages. every towns & cities in India are bursting with population growth , however the number of scavengers has not been increased in proportion to the growth of population , In most of the cases the existing scavengers are overburdened with the work load. , Most of them are suffering from occupational health hazards , are dying at young ages leaving their families in the lurch.

Hereby, we appeal to honourable supreme court of India to treat this as a PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION & to order government of India , all state governments , statuotary bodies

1. to regularize the jobs of all scavengers , to provide all statuotary benefits like ESI,PF, etc.

2. to take all necessary steps to eradicate manual scavenging – carrying human excreta on heads.

3. to take all necessary steps to protect their health & occupational safety.

Bottomline : all the citizens , the society must learn to respect their brethren who keeps them healthy , tidy & civilized. JAI HIND.VANDE MATARAM.

Your's sincerely,

Nagaraj.M.R.

KSOU ready to face any probe: Vice-Chancellor

Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) Vice-Chancellor K.S. Rangappa has said the university is functioning well within the powers assigned to it under the KSOU Act.

Rubbishing allegations made by Medical Education Minister S.A. Ramdas that the KSOU had signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with dubious institutions to impart higher education, Prof. Rangappa said here on Tuesday that all transactions of the university were done in a transparent manner.

“The KSOU is prepared to face inquiry by the CID or even the CBI,” he said at a press conference here.

(The State government on May 11 ordered a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) against the KSOU in the backdrop of allegations of conducting technical and paramedical courses illegally.)

Mr. Ramdas has alleged that the KSOU did not obtain the permission of the Medical Council of India (MCI) to start paramedical courses in association with a certain institution here.

Prof. Rangappa said the collaborative institution had to obtain permission from the MCI, and not the KSOU. He said he was unaware as to why he was being “targeted” by Mr. Ramdas.

“Arbitrary and misleading” statements from persons holding responsible positions in the government could only tarnish the image of the KSOU and jeopardise the academic future of the over 3 lakh students enrolled with the university, he said.

The KSOU had entered into collaboration with over 100 institutions to impart distance education after the Governor, the Chancellor of the university, approved the statues.

The MoUs were signed with the institutions later. The KSOU was empowered to enter into contracts as well as recognise any institution of higher learning or studies for such purposes, the Vice-Chancellor said.

Prof. Rangappa said an expert committee would inspect the institutes to ascertain their credibility in terms of imparting higher education. Based on the committee report, the Academic Council of the KSOU would accord recognition for such institutions for collaboration, he said. The Governor had sought all details from the KSOU in the matter and he would submit them soon, Prof. Rangappa said.

The charge that more than 1 lakh paramedical students were “cheated” by the KSOU since the collaborative institutions did not exist was also not true as there were not more than 40 students enrolled in such courses, he said.

However, the Distance Education Council (DEC) had asked the KSOU to stop the B.Tech. course, but the university had moved the court, Prof. Rangappa said.

If the collaborative institutions failed to function, complaints could be registered with the KSOU. Contracts with such institutions could be terminated in the interest of the students, he added.

Registrar of the university B.S. Vishwanath and deans T.D. Deve Gowda and S.N. Vikaram Raj Urs were among those present.

University of Mysore’s new V-C facing a slew of allegations

Saturday, January 12, 2013 - 10:01 IST | Place: Mysore | Agency: DNA

DNA Correspondent

Be it charges of plagiarising his research thesis or pulling strings for his son’s college admission, rangappa has a lot going against him.

KS Rangappa, who was appointed as the vice-chancellor of University of Mysore on Friday, is facing the following charges:

Plagiarism
Rangappa has been accused of plagiarising a Osmania University research paper, published in an Indian journal, in October 2009 and getting the same published in an international science journal within a year.

Osmania University’s professors from the chemistry department - G Vijayalakshmi, M Adinarayana and P Jayaprakash Rao - had prepared a research paper ‘Kinetics of oxidation of adenosine by tert-butoxyl radicals: Protection and repair by chlorogenic acid’ in 2008. The paper was sent to Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics on July 16, 2008, and revised on August 10, 2009. It was published in its edition of October 2006 (Volume 46).

Rangappa allegedly published the same paper in an international journal, Journal of Physical Organic Chemistry (Europe), in its April 2010 edition, with his name along with those of MN Kumara and DG Bhadregowda in addition to the names of the original authors. Besides that, the address for correspondence was that of Rangappa’s.

DNA had published a detailed report regarding the issue in its March 10, 2011 edition. Following the report, a PIL was filed at Mysore district court. The case is still pending.

Favouring his son
Rangappa’s role in favouring his son in order to get him admitted to Yuvaraja’s college was proved by a syndicate sub-committee constituted by the university syndicate. In 2006 Rangappa favoured his son Shobith to get a seat at Yuvaraja’s college by decreasing the eligibility to 45% when the actual eligibility was 55%. Surprisingly, Rangappa was one of the members in the committee constituted to take decision on decreasing the eligibility.

Shobith, who had not cleared his second PU exams, cleared them by taking the supplementary exam. After the announcement of supplementary exam results, the eligibility was brought down to 45%; some days later, the admission eligibility was raised again to 55%. By this time, Shobith had secured admission.

Dissent note by Thimmappa
Dissent note on the inclusion of professor KS Rangappa’s name in the panel for the post of vice-chancellor of Mysore University made by the search committee in its meeting held on January 4, 2013, reads:

1. A writ petition Nos. 11444/2012(GM-PIL) filed by Sri. KS Shivaram with serious allegations against professor Rangappa is pending before the high court of Karnataka and hence until the case is disposed off in favour of Professor Rangappa, it is prudent on our part not to consider him for the post of V-C at this stage.

2. Professor Rangappa is already functioning as vice-chancellor of KSOU and as there is no dearth of well-qualified candidates for the post of vice-chancellor in the large number of universities under general education, there is hardly any justification to consider professor Rangappa again for a second term. Incidentally, the KSU Act, 2000, ordains only one term for vice-chancellor.

Hence—Thimmappa MS, member, search committee, has stated—I am against including Prof Rangappa’s name in the panel.

Govt orders criminal cases against ex-VC of Mysore varsity

Bangalore, June 11, DH News Service:

The State government has ordered filing of criminal cases against former Mysore University Vice-Chancellor J Shashidhar Prasad for violating government and university rules while recruiting teaching and non-teaching staff.

This is the first time that the state government has given the go ahead for filing of criminal cases against a former vice-chancellor. The 162 appointments made during Prasad’s tenure are now in a limbo. The State government has issued directions to University of Mysore to file criminal charges against the former V-C as per Section 8 (4) of the Karnataka Universities Act, 2000.

In a separate order, the Government has sought details on the appointments made during Prasad’s tenure and their present status. Following complaints of violation of norms during the university recruitment process, a one-man commission headed by retired high court judge H Rangavittalachar was appointed to inquire into the allegations. The report submitted on September 30 last has been accepted by the government and on Wednesday gave the go ahead for filing criminal charges.

The Rangavittalachar commission had found that Prasad violated the University Grants Commission rules and the State government’s reservation policy while awarding marks during selection of candidates to the posts of professors, readers and lecturers during 2006-07.

In addition to the department-wise break-up of appointments made, the State government on Wednesday also sought from the university residential addresses of the appointee. According to highly-placed sources, notices would be served on these appointees shortly. Further action would be taken based on their responses.

Minister defends
Minister for Higher Education Arvind Limbavali said that the move was taken only after careful consideration of the issue. “We had an inquiry ordered to look into the matter. Only after considering this the Government has filed the criminal charges against the ex-Vice Chancellor,” he said.

Vice-Chancellor of VTU failed in 7 semesters

The head of Karnataka’s premier technical education umbrella institution, Visvesvaraya Technical University (VTU), failed in seven of the ten semesters of his undergraduate degree course in mechanical engineering.

He finally managed to pass the course, but only after many attempts, adding up to a total of 25 marks sheets. He now heads a university which has 200 engineering colleges functioning under it. And the HighCourt is looking at his claims that he passed in first class. The stack of marks statements of his shows that he passed only 3 semesters of the 10 without failing in any subject, making repeated attempts to pass some of the papers in the rest of the semesters. He could pass two subjects of the seventh semester only after he passed the 9th and 10th semesters.

While Maheshappa completed semesters nine and ten in 1982, he reappeared for two subjects of the seventh semester – machine design I and estimating, specification and engineering economics – in March 1983. In the ninth semester too he failed in two subjects – metrology and automatic control engineering – in Feb/March, 1982 and he cleared these papers along with the 10th semester.

Student at the Government BDT College of Engineering, Davangere affiliated to University of Mysore, Maheshappa obtained a post-graduate degree and doctorate from Bangalore University, where it was not mandatory to submit a degree certificate while seeking entry to a PG course or doctoral programme.

It is not mandatory for a person to have a first class degree to become a VC, but Maheshappa has been accused of making false claims before the search panel that selected him to head the VTU for three years from 2010. While he has claimed that he has a first class degree in BE, those who have filed a public interest litigation in the High Court have alleged that he has just a second class degree, and contrary to his claim did not guide any PhD student.

The University of Mysore, during 1980s, used award an engineering degree based on the scoring of the last two semesters. Maheshappa’s 10th semester marks card (August/September 1982) mentions that he obtained second class. He failed in two subjects and his total scoring was 393 out of 775.

He passed the subjects later. In the final semester, he secured 830 out of 1400. While the university awarded him second class going by the marks he had scored in the first attempt, he has claimed that after the second attempt he made in the 9th semester, the percentage crossed 60 per cent.

Copies of the marks cards, obtained under the RTI, show that the University seems to have committed an error in the column indicating ‘Total Marks’.

While the ‘Total Marks’ for the 9th semester was 775 in the statement of marks of Feb/March 1982, the same is shown as 770 in the final semester marks sheet, where both marks scored in 9th and 10th are mentioned.

The total scoring of two semesters stands at 830 out of 1400 (59.24 %). But it should be 830 out of 1425 (58.24%).

Maheshappa, in the CV submitted to the search committee, had stated that he had ‘guided’ four PhD students. But a document obtained under the RTI from VTU on January 5, 2012 has stated that no student has been awarded PhD under his guidance but he is only ‘guiding’ four students.

K Balaveera Reddy, two-time vice chancellor of VTU, told Deccan Herald: “Any university will go by the marks obtained by a student in the first attempt. The marks obtained by making subsequent attempts to clear a paper are not taken into consideration while declaring class or rank. In case of VTU, the last four semesters aggregate is taken into consideration for declaring class.”

KU scandal: Probe reveals murky links

Every year, the accused involved in the fake marks cards and answer scripts scam in Kuvempu University, “earned” lakhs of rupees through their illegal deeds. With the investigation taking shape, police have found answers to various questions like where did this money go, how was it utilised and more.

However, the police are perplexed as to why the University has not maintained the details of its answer sheets, blank marks cards and holograms, which were stolen by the accused. Interestingly, the accused have maintained detailed records in dairies and note books on the money and answer scripts received.

During the second raid, police recovered more documents on financial transactions and other details like the number of answer scripts received from a particular agent, registration numbers and the amount received from the agents. The documents collected by the police also reveal how the money was spent in the last two years. Main accused Devaraj invested more than `8 lakh in 10 chit-funds ranging from `1.5 lakh to `10,000 every month, which was mentioned in the dairy of his wife. They have also purchased gold jewellery and pasted the receipts on each page of the dairy.

Devaraj is a group-D contract employee. Now the police are discussing with legal experts and senior police officers on how to recover that amount, police sources said.

A senior police officer told Express that the recovered blank answer scripts, marks cards and hologram are not fake. But the University is behaving as if it does not know anything about this. It is not bothered about how many blank answer scripts, marks cards and holograms had been stolen from the University. During examinations, each examination centre would be given the answer papers and the in-charge of the examination centres should return the remaining answer scripts, which should match the total number of copies, to the University after the examination.

Investigation should also be conducted on whether the accused have stolen the answer scripts while transporting them back to the University or had stolen them from the University itself. If the examination centre in-charge had given the correct details of thecopies, then the University store keeper will have to face the music. Otherwise, the examination centre in-charge would also be held responsible for the scam, the officer said.

Degree certificate tampering scandal hits BU

Even while the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) is battling allegations of tampering of marks cards, Bangalore University (BU) has a similar problem in its own backyard. The varsity recently discovered that the degree certificate of a former student was fraudulently given away to another person during BU’s 41{+s}{+t}mini convocation .

Explaining the case, BU Registrar (Evaluation) R.K. Somashekhar said B. Sujatha, who graduated in 1998, took her marks card from the university but did not apply for her B.Ed degree certificate. When she finally did apply for a provisional degree certificate last year, BU authorities unearthed the scam where her degree certificate (bearing her register number) had been given away to another person named Joshwa Samuel. While the university has now withdrawn the degree given to Mr. Samuel and reconfirmed that the degree belonged to Ms. Sujatha, the whereabouts of Mr. Samuel is still not known.

The 30 Billion Dollar Medical Seats Scam

Fury gripped the grass-roots medical fraternity today as they vented their anger on Twitter's hashtag#SaveNeetPG in relation to the “Cash for Medical Seats” scandal. On the 3^rd April 2013, the CNN-IBN admirable sting operation caught the following on camera in relation to “medical seats for sale”:-

• Medical colleges sell seats defying the Supreme Court order
• Officials demand Crores for Postgraduate medical [PG] seats
• Money Trumps merit: Will Future Doctors be incompetent?
• Legitimate students paid lakhs to vacate PG seats
• How colleges hire docs to fudge medical inspections
• Find out why your child may not get admission to medical college
• Medical seats for sale: Are colleges producing dummy docs?
• CNN IBN uncovers black market for PG medical seats

India's medical fraternity have demanded that the government acts immediately over this obvious corruption. One Indian doctor [ @DoctoAt Large] wrote

“You can't expect doctors paying 3 crores for PG seats to be ethical with patients. Start by eliminating corruption in admissions”

Following the sting operation, CNN-IBN submitted the film to the Medical Council of India [MCI]. Sadly, all authorities have been lethargic. The MCI's position on this issue is currently unknown. There has been no robust statement of reassurance to the media or the public. This is entirely unacceptable. Despite this clear and present danger to the public, the MCI refused to have a plan or be pro-active in this issue. Are they out of their depth?

Indeed, the true extent of threat to public safety not yet known, considered or addressed. This is broadly an unacceptable and shocking situation. The government and the MCI appears relatively unconcerned about the potential threat to patient safety. Moreover, it is unknown how many doctors have “bought their way” through medical school. The true extent of medical incompetence is also unknown. Moreover, this may have international implications as the number of doctors from this group may also be working abroad.

The current Health Minister appears relatively unconcerned about the potential for high mortality rate and threat to patient safety this may have led to or may indeed lead to. Moreover, this calls into question the number of competent students unlawfully rejected from medical school/post graduate education in favour of the elite who can pay their way through anything. The MCI and the current government' supine attitude to this serious problem raises the question as to whether they are implicated or complicit in these unlawful activities.

Buying a place in medical school is becoming a easy gateway to status, power and financial security. Long gone are ideas of patient safety and integrity. Clearly, the good doctors who have tirelessly worked hard against these serious obstacles will object to this unlawful behaviour that places the Indian medical fraternity under public scrutiny. How can the public now trust India's medical establishment with their lives? These activities will be causing an erosion in public confidence.

It is interesting that in April 2010, the President of the Medical Council of India [MCI] was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation for taking a Rs 2 crore bribe to recognise a medical college in Punjab. The CNN-IBN investigation had also demonstrated how a cartel led by this man flouted the normal procedures of the MCI with the intention of making money. Moreover, students lacking a background in science were given places on MBBS courses and colleges with no proper infrastructure were granted licenses. At that point, the government had apparently dissolved the MCI and replaced it with a board of governors, but the situation has not changed at all.

To demand some kind of accountability, CNN-IBN Live's Mr Rajdeep Sardesai swung into action from his usual cricket viewing and dog walking to take another bite at this story. He questioned former MoS Health Minister Dinesh Trivedi on this matter.

Mr Trivedi admitted that every year more than $30 billion was involved in “buying” medical seats. During the interview he claimed that 100 or so medical colleges were being controlled by politicians and were involved in selling their PG medical seats. “The “big money goes to 100 colleges” Mr Trivedi said.

Trivedi blamed the conduct of the politicians saying

“It is the job of the government to create capacity whether in terms of hospitals or in terms of medical colleges, You just have many medical colleges, just like you've done for engineering colleges. Now there are no capitation fees. This is the gap that is created purposely kept”.

Former member of the Dental Council of India, Dr Usha Mohandas added

“It is a kind of well-established cartel. It is a beautiful network. The world can learn a lot from how strong this networking has been established for a wrong purpose. I would want the ministry to take absolute responsibility because the process of started and ending this is with the ministry, the other people in between are just via media. The ministry cannot wash its hands off and say that these are autonomous. If you ask the regulatory, they say we don't know anything you know, the minister asks us to do the same. This passing of the buck has to end.

All this is not new of of course. Over the last three years, CNN-IBN has been reporting on the corruption in the top most echelons of the Indian medical establishment with no action taken by the government.

The TV channel wrote

“CNN-IBN has also been showing how medical education regulators have been approving sub-standard medical and dental colleges and allowing them to flourish. The apathy, however, is leading to production of dummy doctors in the country”

Other incidences include as follows - In 2009, the Times of India reported that MBBS seats were being sold for Rs12 lakhs-40 lakhs by two private colleges in Chennai. At the time, the price of the seats were Rs 2 crore in radiology while Rs 1.5 crore for cardiology, gynaecology and orthopaedics. The hike in price was due to the reduced number of places available that year for the 32,000 graduates from medical school.

Times of India wrote

“Another senior expert, who has held prestigious posts at the national level, says he has urged the UGC to hold centralized examinations like JEE for admissions to both MBBS and PG courses. ``It's a national shame to commercialize education. Besides, death of merit affects the quality of medical education. When money is paid, these colleges ensure that the exit is definite. The students pass, qualified or not,''

By 2011, the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested a doctor from Karnataka in the PGIMER seat for sale scam. This was the sixth arrest at the time. The mastermind's main area of operation were Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Haryna - where he along with his partners would text individuals for various examinations offering a seat for a certain price. The price of the seats ranged from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 80 lakh. Allegedly, seats were offered for AIIMS New Delhi as well.

In October 2011, Bangalore Police announced “A racket in sale of medical and dental seats for sums ranging from Rs 75 lakh to Rs 90 lakh has been busted in Karnataka with the arrest of 11 persons belonging to two gangs”. There were more complaints of medical seat fraud in Bhopal where a woman was arrested for allegedly taking money in exchange for medical seats.

By 2012, the CBI had been investigating more complicated allegations of medical school seat scam. This particular scam was elaborate involving a Tollywood producer.

The Indian Express wrote

“We are looking into the role of doctors in collusion with the accused and medical seat aspirants,’’ the sources said. Police suspect that the main accused collected huge amounts of money from the medical seat aspirants. “With the tainted money the producer is planning to make more movies in the near future,’’ a source said.

Of course, these are the few stories that were reported. There must be thousands of incidents that have not made it to the public eye. It is clear that corruption is widespread in India's medical training system. For now, we know that this is allegedly a $30 billion dollar scam, with the involvement of politicians who yet remain unnamed. While the current Health Minister passes the buck onto the MCI, it is interesting to note that he cleverly diverts the public gaze from the politicians who may well be ultimately responsible for this scandal. The MCI have no powers to hold politicians to account.

Not only have they placed the public at risk but the government faces allegations of illegal discrimination on a mass scale.

We do not know how long this unlawful behaviour has been ongoing, nor do we know the extent of incompetent unqualified people who have been allowed into medical school and have been allowed to practise in India or abroad.

We do not know how many patients have died as a result, nor do we know the true scale of this scam. If individuals can “pay” their way into medical school, to what extent does this dishonesty extend? Is this dishonesty at dangerous levels now given the endless lists of health related scams in India. The current health minister had limply stated that there would be an audit on health related scams “We have to have audits in future to check health-related scams, including NRHM scam”. So that would be the corrupt assessing the corrupt leading to a erroneous result then.

Lastly, how many innocent people are suffering because of the utterly shameful behaviour of the current government of India? The “Cash For Medical Seats” Scandal joins the endless list of Indian Scandals that the government has swept under the carpet by building a cosmetic façade of innocence.

The question is, how many people will die as a result?

NB Congratulations to the CNN-IBN team and their boss Rajdeep Sardesai for their superb sting operation and determination in exposing this wide ranging scandal.

Author : Dr Rita Pal, Follow her twitter.com/dr_rita39

DVS alleges marks card scam in RGUHS, seeks Lokayukta probe

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, D V Sadananda Gowda on Thursday said that a massive marks card scandal was continuing in the Rajiv GandhiUniversity of Health Sciences (RGUHS).

Citing instances of two students, one of whom is from the Rajarajeshwari Medical College, Bangalore, Gowda said the university has been passing students, though they had failed in some subjects. Such a thing is happening at all the colleges affiliated to RGUHS, he added.

Gowda said that Harshitha of Rajarajeswari Medical College had failed in anatomy and physiologypapers in June 2012 examinations. Subsequently, she went for a re-totalling of the marks of the two subjects, but was again declared failed.

“However, when the marks cards were issued by the university in December 2012, Harshitha had passed in the two papers,” he said.

Appeal

The former chief minister appealed to the medical education minister to order a Lokayukta probe into the marks card scandal, which he said, is not limited to one or two students but involved several hundreds.

JD(S) leader M C Nanaiah said the government must study whether the administrative authorities of the university will come under the ambit of the Lokayukta Act before ordering any inquiry. Gowda also claimed that a Rs 266-crore scam had taken place in Karnatak University, Dharwad.

CASTE IN CAMPUS

DALITS NOT WELCOME IN IIT MADRAS

There are only a handful of Dalit students and faculty members at the elite institute, but they face widespread discrimination and harassment

PC Vinoj Kumar
Chennai

All the noise against extending reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in centrally-funded institutions might be a little irrelevant given that an institute like IIT Madras has parted with only a fraction of the 22.5 percent quota for students belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs). According to information provided by the institute’s deputy registrar, Dr K. Panchalan, in September 2005, Dalits accounted for only 11.9 percent of the number of students. They were even fewer in the higher courses — 2.3 percent in ms (Research) and 5.8 percent in Ph.D. Out of a total of 4,687 students, Dalits made up only 559.

Activists who have been fighting for proper implementation of reservations for Dalits describe IIT Madras as a modern day agraharam — a Brahmin enclave. Located on a 250 hectare wooded campus in the heart of the city, the majority of the 460 faculty members and students here are Brahmins. According to WB Vasantha Kandasamy, assistant professor in the Mathematics department, there are just four Dalits among the institute’s entire faculty, a meagre 0.86 percent of the total faculty strength. There are about 50 OBC faculty members, and the rest belong to the upper castes, she says.

Vasantha says Dalit Ph.D scholars are routinely harassed. “They are forced to change their topic of research midway. They are unduly delayed, and are failed in examinations and vivas. It is a stressful atmosphere for them.” She says her support of Dalit students got her into the bad books of the management. (See Box)

There have been many agitations against the management in the past over not filling the Dalit quota and the alleged harassment of Dalit students. Activists say there were even fewer Dalit students and faculty members in the institute some years ago, and it was only because of efforts by parties like Paatali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal (VC) and Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK) that the situation improved. In 1996, K. Viswanath, general secretary of the IIT SC/ST Employees Welfare Association, remarked in a letter to the institute’s director that the institute was yet to have a professor from the SC/ST community even after 37 years of its existence. There were only two Dalits of the rank of assistant professor and there was just one Dalit scientific officer, he noted.

In 2000, the PDK published a book based on a study it did on the anti-Dalit attitude in the institute. The study noted that there were several departments at the institute where even after 41 years, “not a single Dalit student has been selected for doing Ph.D or has successfully completed his degree”. The study also stated that, “almost all M.Tech and ms Students in IIT were Brahmins.” The PDK is now demanding that the institute come out with a white paper providing details of the total number of Dalit students who have completed postgraduate and doctoral programmes. “The National Commission for SC/ST should closely monitor if reservation policy for Dalits is being strictly followed in student admissions,” says Viduthalai Rajendran, PDK general secretary.

The PDK is not alone in levelling such charges. Retired ias officer V. Karuppan, who is state convener of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR), recalls that in 2005 a “meritorious” Dalit student was denied admission to the Ph.D course in the Mathematics department. “They didn’t call him for an interview initially. But he was asked to appear for the interview after we argued his case with the authorities. But in the interview, they asked him irrelevant questions and failed him,” he says.

There have been many complaints of discrimination against Dalit students in the campus. The PDK study cites the case of a Dalit student Sujee Teppal, who had scored 94 percent in Maths, Physics, and Chemistry in the public intermediate exam. Sujee had also secured admission in bits, Ranchi and bits, Pilani but chose to attend IIT Madras, where in spite of her meritorious track record she was made to join the mandatory one-year “preparatory course” for Dalit students. According to the PDK study, “at the end of the course in which she only re-learnt her 12th standard syllabus, she was declared failed.” The institute refused to reverse its decision in spite of the intervention of the National Commission for SC/ST and the then state SC/ST minister Selvaraj in her favour.

Another serious charge against the institute is that successive directors have flouted rules in appointing faculty members, and do not advertise vacancies in newspapers. Former Congress MP Era Anbarasu has brought the issue to the notice of Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh in several letters. In the memorandum submitted to the minister on September 2, 2006, he states: “The ambiguity is apparent because even the number of vacancies is not announced. In order to broaden this arbitrariness, applications to the entry level position of assistant professor are invited for all the 15 departments at the same time. Norms and guidelines for selection are wilfully abandoned by the respective departments.”

Anbarasu wants a high-level committee to probe irregularities in appointments and the violation of reservation policies by the IIT management. He has levelled charges against director MS Ananth, whom he calls a “highly casteist man”. He says that disregarding all norms, Ananth has mostly chosen faculty members from his own community of Iyengar Brahmins. Of the six deans in the institute, four are from the Iyengar community.

In his memorandum to Singh, Anbarasu has demanded that the present director be replaced with someone from the OBC/SC/ST community as the institute has had only Brahmins as directors so far. “I met the minister (Arjun Singh) three or four times and discussed with him these issues. He promised to order a probe, but nothing has happened till now,” he says.

A PIL filed by Karuppan last year against the allegedly flawed selection process in IIT Madras was dismissed by the High Court. Karuppan has now filed a review petition. He also met the IIT director along with a senior leader of the CPI to discuss the reservation issue, and says the director told him that no policy of reservation for SC/ST was applicable to IIT Madras. Karuppan says there are several cases pending in courts against the institute’s selection and reservation policy. They include writ petitions by the IIT Backward Classes Employees Welfare Association, and the Vanniar Mahasangam.

An angry Thol Thirumavalavan, general secretary of the Dalit Panthers of India, says, “Dalits are only working as sweepers and scavengers in the institute”. He wants the IIT management to release a white paper containing details of appointments and admissions given to Dalits and OBCs. “The Tamil Nadu government should demand this information from the institute,” he says.

When Tehelka tried to meet IIT Director MS Ananth to get his views on the allegations against him and the institute, his secretary wanted this correspondent to send a mail stating the purpose for the interview. In the mail to the director, it was stated that the interview was needed “on the issue of SC/ST reservation policy in IIT, Madras.” His reaction on Anbarasu’s memorandum to the Union hrd minister levelling charges of corruption against him was also sought. However, his secretary said the director was not available for comments.

Cong, BSP stall RS over ‘atrocities against Dalits’ in Punjab

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha could not transact any business on Monday as Congress members stalled proceedings over alleged atrocities against Dalits in Punjab.

Congress MPs were joined by BSP members who protested against the alleged chopping off of the limbs of two Dalit youth in the state ruled by the Akali Dal-BJP combine.

The disruptions began as soon as the House met in the morning. BSP leader Mayawati was on her feet, raising the incident at a farmhouse in Abohar.

With the Chair continuing with the listed business, slogan shouting BSP and Congress members trooped into the well of the House. Amid the din, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj made a suo motu statement on her visit to Islamabad.

Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government condemned the incident in the strongest possible terms and supported strict action against the accused, but a state subject could not be discussed in Parliament.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said, "Some members are hijacking the House. It is most unfortunate, undemocratic that few members are taking the House to ransom. You have no justification for doing it."

When the House met after lunch, Congress MP Anand Sharma said a trust holding a function to unveil the statue of former Kerala chief minister R Sankar had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kerala CM Oommen Chandy. However, the invitation to Chandy was withdrawn after pressure from the central government, he alleged.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley rejected the charge by saying that SNDP was a private organization and it could invite or not invite anyone. He mentioned that a case was registered against the general secretary of SNDP by Kerala government which led to withdrawal of invitation.

Soon after, the government tried to take up the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2015, but Congress and BSP members continued sloganeering and protest in the well.

"They talk about Dalits but they do not want to take up the bill to prevent atrocities on Dalits," Naqvi said. Amid protests from opposition MPs, social justice minister Thawar Chand Gahlot moved the bill.

The government tried to get the bill passed amid the din but the opposition refused to relent. "This is related to justice for SCs/STs, why not discuss this," Naqvi asked. Azad said they were in favour of the bill but "we cannot pass the bill in the din".

Kurien later adjourned the House for the day.

Atrocities against dalits a serious issue, says SDPI

AURANGABAD: The state unit Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has said that life has become difficult for dalits, adivasis and minority communities on the backdrop of changing political conditions in the country.

Expressing concerns over rising communalism in the state, especially in Pune, Nagpur and Mumbai, the leaders of SDPI said the time has come to strengthen their party in Maharashtra and contest municipal elections by 2017.

They were speaking during a meeting held in Nagpur on Sunday.

During the meeting, the party's state unit president Sadique Qureshi alleged that since the BJP came to power, life has become difficult for Dalits, adivasis and minority communities in the country.

The meeting was attended by party members from Vidarbha, Marathwada and western Maharashtra.

"Steps need to be initiated to stop the ongoing atrocities on Dalits, adivasis, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians and stern steps need to be taken against its perpetrators," Qureshi said.

SDPI's state working committee member Jitendra Ghodeswar said after BJP came to power in Maharashtra, the Valmiki community is being financially and socially exploited, which is a serious matter. The party shall take concrete steps to resolve the issues of the community, he added.

The party's state general secretary Zeeshan Sheikh said the meeting would give a new direction to SDPI in the state.

Dalit atrocities surface at public hearing in city

JAIPUR: A 19-year-old Dalit girl alleged that she was raped by those fellow villagers who wanted to grab her land.

She narrated her painful story in a day-long public hearing organised by the Dalit Adhikar Network, Rajasthan, at Pant Krishi Bhavan on Thursday, in collaboration with Action Aid and Jai Bhim Vikas Sikshan Sansthan.

"They wanted my seven-and-a-half bigah land. I live with my mother and I don't have a father. So, some fellow villagers want to grab our land," she said.

Suman (name changed) is a resident of Pari village in Chittorgarh district. She said that on August 26, the accused allegedly raped her and forced her to sign on her land papers. They also allegedly threatened to kill her.

Suman was not the only girl who appeared in the public hearing demanding justice, but also there were other victim women who faced such atrocities. A minor girl, Rashi (name changed), was sexually assaulted by a youth belonging to the dominant community. She was blackmailed on the basis of her photographs taken without her knowledge. Following the efforts of Dalit Adhikar Network, an FIR was registered in the matter. The matter pertains to Daikada village under Banad police station in Jodhpur district.

The problems faced by Kalbeliya community because of lack of Scheduled Caste certificates were also highlighted in the case of Gulab Nath, a resident of Badli village of Pokhran tehsil in Jaisalmer district. It was discussed that despite approaching the revenue authorities, the certificate was not issued in his name, depriving him of the benefits of all government schemes and welfare measures. The issue of land of 30 families belonging to Khateek and Kalal communities in Rajaji Ka Karera village of Karera tehsil in Bhilwara district, which was allotted to them by the erstwhile royal family, is allegedly being encroached upon by people belonging to dominant caste was also taken up. They demolished the boundary walls of their fields and destroyed the standing crops.

Stringent laws to curb atrocities against dalit people demanded in Trichy

TRICHY: According to a survey conducted by Evidence, a Madurai-based NGO, at least 43 honour killings took place in the state last year alone, with most of the victims being women. A team of experts who met in the city to discuss honour crimes in the country stressed on the need for a nationwide debate, consultations among the public and special laws to stop these crimes.

Experts from various backgrounds spoke at a seminar conducted by the department of women's studies of the Bhrathidasan University, titled 'Honour crimes in India: Lessons and cautions'. U Nirmala, advocate and social activist belonging to the Madurai bench of the Madras high court, spoke on the need for a stronger law to book the atrocities that are committed against the dalits in the country.

She alluded to the case of Illavarasan and Divya, whose marriage and Illavarasan's subsequent death shook the state the previous year. "Though there is a provision in the constitution to marry any person of their choice, the society is still not in a mood to accept it," she said, adding that the judiciary was just watching this happen.

A Kathir, member of Evidence, said that despite the high number of intercaste marriages in the country, the achievement of real caste intermingling can be calculated only by looking at cases of dalits marrying people of higher castes, which was not the case in the country. At least 1,000 women died in India due to atrocities committed against them in the name of caste, he said, out of which 47% were killed due to intercaste marriages and about 36% were suicides.

"A nationwide debate and imposition of special laws are the only remedies to stop such crimes in the country," A Kathir said.

Several victims of honour crimes narrated their stories, including instances of entire families getting ostracised by the society, during the discussion. Railway superintendant of police Anne Vijaya also participated in the day-long discussion.

A Kathir, member of Evidence, said despite the high number of intercaste marriages in the country, the achievement of real caste intermingling can be calculated only by looking at cases of dalits marrying people of higher castes.

HC issues notices to govt to curb atrocities on Dalits

JAIPUR: Rajasthan High Court issued notices to the state government over atrocities against Dalits in the state and directed the director general of police (DGP) to take effective steps to prevent such incidents and fix responsibility of officials concerned to deal with such cases.

The division bench of chief justice Sunil Ambwani and Ajit Singh issued notices to principal secretary (home), principal secretary (social welfare and empowerment) and DGP on a PIL by Dalit Manav Adhikar Kendra Samiti President P L Mimroth through counsel A K Jain.

The petition said even after 68 years of Independence still in large areas of Rajasthan State especially in rural areas, Dalits are not allowed to take out bridegroom processions and denied funeral rights. They are not allowed to take out funeral procession on main roads where people from upper castes take out processions. They are also not allowed to use common funeral grounds.

Petitioner made a thorough study in the matter and came to know that when a Dalit tries to use his right to equality, he is thrashed badly, beaten. Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 was specially enacted in this regard as it is about enforcing social disabilities. However, since many years, Rajasthan Police has not registered cases under Protection of Civil Right Act 1955.

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