A group of Dalit faculty members, holding key administrative posts in Bangalore University, wrote to the Vice-Chancellor, threatening to resign alleging caste-based discrimination in appointments to statutory positions and denial of service-related benefits.
In a letter to Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Jayakara Shetty on July 2, the 10 professors alleged that despite having served in administrative roles for several years, alongside their teaching responsibilities, they are being “sidelined” in appointments to statutory positions and are being given only “supervisory” roles without adequate authority or recognition.
They described this move as a “discriminatory policy” against Dalit faculty members. The professors also pointed out in the letter that the university had earlier “provided earned leave (EL) encashment or compensation for their administrative work, which has now been stopped without explanation”. They accused the university authorities of ignoring their repeated representations and complaints on these matters.
The professors said that if their demands are not met “within a week” from when the letter was written to the V-C, they will “consider themselves to have resigned from their administrative positions”.
The signatories are Prof Somashekhar C, Director, Ambedkar Research Center; Prof Vijayakumar H Doddamani, Director, Babu Jagjivan Ram Research Center; Prof Nagesh P C, Director, Students Welfare; Prof Krishnamurthy G, Special Officer, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; Prof Sudesh V, Coordinator, PM-USHA; Prof Muralidhar B L, Director, Centre for Distance and Online Education; Prof Shashidhar M, Director, Malviya Teachers Training Institute; Prof Ramesh, Director, Broadcasting; Dr Suresh R, Director, Equal Opportunities Cell, and Dr Kumbinarasayya S, Director, BOL Center.
The professors said that their “collective step is not just about individual grievances but a protest against systemic exclusion and denial of legitimate benefits”. “We have not been given full charge by the university to these statutory posts and we are not entitled to ELs, even though we are dedicating our time without getting any rewards. This is a systemic effort to sideline Dalit professors. Despite writing to the authorities there has been no response,” a professor, who did not wish to be named, told The Indian Express.
Dr Shetty did not respond to calls from The Indian Express.
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In a communication, The Indian Express has learnt, the Bangalore University said, “The university acknowledges that faculty members serving as Coordinators, Directors, Special Officers, Chief Wardens, and Chairs of Study Centres are performing crucial administrative duties, similar to the responsibilities handled by Department Chairpersons. Their roles have been recognised as ‘essential services’, and they are equally accountable for the functioning of their respective departments and centres.”
The communication said, “However, in certain departments where the position of Head has not been officially sanctioned due to the absence of approved bylaws, the services of Coordinating Officers are currently being utilised. The university intends to amend the existing bylaws to formalise the appointment of Heads for such departments.”
“Once these amendments are approved, the university will take necessary steps to provide Earned Leave (EL) benefits and other applicable remuneration to Coordinating Officers who have been performing these additional responsibilities in departments that currently lack sanctioned Head positions,” it said.