Caste-Based Discrimination In Educational Institutions At Rise: Are We Tackling This Right?

The CJI recently called out caste-based discrimination in educational institutions at the NALSAR University's 19th Annual Convocation where he delivered the Silver Jubilee Lecture. 

The case of the IIT Bombay student who allegedly died by suicide this February is being speculated as a case of caste-based discrimination that led to murder. 

Not only students but also the dwindling numbers of faculty members who belong to backward classes are on the brunt of such discrimination across the nation.

A study titled 'The Steady Drumbeat of Institutionalised Casteism' investigates caste-based discrimination in educational institutions like engineering and medical colleges in India. The publishers of this study are the People's Union of Civil Liberties, Maharashtra, the Forum of Medical Ethics Society, the Forum Against Oppression Of Women, and the Medico Friend Circle. 

The study brings forward the hesitation of the education institution involved in Dr Payal Tadvi's demise to recognise her demise as a result of caste-based discrimination. The institute ostensibly appeared eager to brush off culpability by acknowledging it as a case of bullying and harassment. 

Dr Payal was the first Adivasi Bhil Woman from the Muslim community to pursue higher education in medicine. 

The three accused involved were also resident doctors like Dr Payal. Some various testimonials and allegations corroborate that Dr Payal was subjected to caste derogatory remarks by the accused which led to suicide. 

The accused would question the deceased's rank in the NEET exam as a member of the reserved category. Such remarks are implicative of the angst and belief that people from the general caste harbour against the OBCs for undeservingly usurping seats. 

The same study reveals the lack of sensitivity, assumption of culpability, and a dismissive attitude by people of the upper caste towards the existence of institutionalised caste-based discrimination. 

In another similar incident of caste-based discrimination, an IIT Kharagpur professor from the English department jestingly made caste derogatory remarks in her online class and was suspended for it. 

In 2021, IIT Madras saw the resignation of Vipin Veetil for caste-based discrimination. Vipin was an assistant professor from the Economics department of IIT Madras. He belonged to the OBC community. 

Impact of Caste-Based Discrimination In Educational Institutions 

A 2022 report by Anadolu Agency brings forward the voices of the marginalised student who suffer in the face of institutionalised caste-based discrimination. 

A student studying film at the Ambedkar University in New Delhi revealed that they had been transparent about their Dalit identity since joining and had been actively voicing themselves for the rights of the marginalised community. They were type casted and called derogatory nicknames for it. 

An anti-caste activist from the Bisra Ambedkar Phule Student's Association pinned down casteism, lack of caste-based sensitization, and lack of proper policy as evils that purport institutionalised caste discrimination. 

The recently demised IIT Bombay student's sister conveyed that her brother has casually remarked on the casteist behaviour of the upper caste students towards the lower caste students for enjoying 'freebies' owing to their backward status. 

The family accused the institute of conducting the demised's student's post-mortem without their consent. The institute has denied the involvement of any institutionalised caste discrimination so far that might have led to the student's demise. 

Validating the existence of institutionalised caste discrimination the CJI openly remarked his disapproval of the allotment of hotel rooms based on marks, publicly displaying a list of marks along with one's caste. Additionally, he also called for a change in the system of operations of high-ranking institutes like NLU conducting entry-level exams in English. This practice is not sensitive towards students from marginalised communities who feel hindered by the language. This affects the participation and employment of people from marginalised sections.

He called for accountability in the judiciary by means of judicial dialogue inside and outside courtrooms to acknowledge institutionalised caste discrimination to sensitise society to it. 

Suggested Reading: Caste And Education: Why Education Must Be Anti-Caste?