The government ordered a judicial inquiry on Friday into the circumstances that led to Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula’s suicide as the crisis at University of Hyderabad intensified after protesters rejected the revocation of suspension of four students and refused to end their strike until the vice-chancellor resigned.
On recommendation of its fact-finding committee, the human resource development (HRD) set up the inquiry commission and directed it to submit a report within three months. The fact-finding committee held the university administration responsible for the incident and said the issue was handled insensitively.
The HRD ministry said corrective measures would be taken such as institutionalising a mentor system for disadvantaged students, a grievance redress mechanism and an orientation programme to sensitise administrators on Dalit issues.
The suicide note left by Vemula was sent for forensic analysis on Friday and police said they were exploring various leads, including a struck-off portion of the note. The SC/ST staff of the university mounted pressure on vice-chancellor Podile Appa Rao, with more members giving up their administrative posts to protest the alleged bias against Dalits.
“We outrightly reject this illegitimate circular (to revoke suspension of four students) since it came through a committee headed by the VC, who in our opinion is not the legitimate VC anymore, but in fact a criminal on the run,” the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice said in a statement. The committee is spearheading the agitation seeking justice for Rohith, who hanged himself on Sunday.
Rao should immediately surrender to police, it added.
