The Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi has been asked by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) to review its decision to expel 12 Scheduled Caste (SC) students on the ground of poor performance. The expelled SC students on the other hand labeled allegations of caste-based discrimination by the institute.
After a brief hearing at the NCSC headquarters in New Delhi on 17th June’08, where the affected students and the IIT Delhi director were present, Buta Singh, the Chairman of NCHC said that Delhi IIT has failed to warn the students that they may be expelled and did not inform their parents, indicating ‘Apathy’ to SC students. Briefing the reporters after the hearing Buta Singh said, “ IITs are guilty of not warning the students in advance about the implications of poor performance. The students must have been personally called. The institute must also have the mechanisms to assist the students to improve.”
Singh also asked IIT, Delhi director, Surendra Prasad, to ensure that officials involved in the expulsion of the students are not engaged in the review process.
Ravi Kumar Ravi, an expelled student and chief complainant in this case, said that the students have ample evidence to prove that IIT has discriminated against them. “Some of us have been referred as ‘sarkari jamai’ (son-in-law of the government)” Ravi said. Deepak Kumar, another student of second year civil engineering said, “At the end of the first term, the course coordinator came to know my caste name and from that point on, my marks have taken a sharp dip, and I fear my caste may be responsible.”
IIT officials, on the other hand, said that they would review all the cases as per directions of the NCSC, and would take back students if there had been a ‘genuine error on the part of the IIT.’