aking cognisance of JNU professor Amita Singh’s remarks against Dalit and Muslim teachers, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes had on March 8 sent a letter to the varsity Vice-Chancellor asking him to take action against the teacher, but nothing has been done in this regard so far.
The professor who is the head of JNU’s Centre for Law and Governance had kicked up a storm by allegedly calling “Dalit and Muslim teachers” in the campus “anti-nationals”. The alleged comments of the professor were made in an interview published by a website.
According to sources, Ms. Singh is a part of the committee that will analyse the recommendations of the high-level panel that looked into the February 9 incident, and decide the punishment.
“A petition/complaint has been received by the NCSC from UP Patrika.com dated March 4 and the commission has decided to investigate the matter in pursuance of the powers conferred upon it by the Constitution of India under Article 338. You are hereby requested to submit the facts and information and the action taken on allegations/matter within five days of this notice,” the letter sent to Vice-Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar read. The university administration was unavailable for comments. A letter was also sent to the Delhi Police Commissioner, asking him to take action against the professor. The letter stated that “it is a very serious matter and the Delhi Police may register a criminal complaint”.
However, no action has been taken by the Delhi Police as well. “I have not received the copy of the letter. Once I receive it, we will examine the legalities and take action accordingly,” a police officer said.
Ms. Singh, during the interview was asked, “How many teachers and students in JNU are anti-national?” She allegedly replied, “Teachers are hardly 10 but they portray as if everybody is with them. You think a teacher in an institution like JNU would be so stupid as to back anti-national slogans? These are just five or six persons and they are Dalits and Muslims. They have their grudges.”
