Social activists and intellectuals from various fields believe that a deliberate attempt is being made to dilute the case filed against the University of Hyderabad Vice-Chancellor and others for the death of Dalit research scholar Rohit Vemula registered under the SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act.
Rohit’s suicide was a culmination of discrimination he faced as a Dalit on the campus from the authorities, said former Chief Secretary Kaki Madhava Rao and others. Even a year after Rohit’s death, no action was taken against the ‘accused’. But Guntur Collector Kanthilal Dande recently issued a notice to the family of Rohit Vemula asking why should not their SC caste certificates be revoked on the basis of a scrutiny committee which ruled that Rohit was not an SC.
Social activists see this as a clear attempt to shift the focus from the circumstances that drove Rohit to suicide. “The idea is to show Rohit as a non-SC as there is enhanced punishment under the SC, ST Atrocities Act. Another reason is that Rohit became an icon and symbol of Dalit movement across the country,” said Mr. Madhava Rao at a media conference here on Friday.
Revenue records
The Guntur Collector was the same person who gave a report to the National Scheduled Caste Commission in April 2016 that Rohit belonged to Hindu Mala caste, a Scheduled Caste category as per the available revenue records in Tehsildar’s office. The caste certificate was issued by the Revenue Department after due process. “The caste angle was not part of the terms of reference of the Commission. Once the Revenue Department issued a caste certificate, not even a Civil Court can inquire into it. One should only go to HC,” said Mr. Madhava Rao.
