NCSC seeks report on allegations of caste discrimination against varsity professor; police accused of delaying inquiry

Based on the article published by The Hindu about the students’ allegations of caste discrimination by a Tamil professor at Periyar University (PU), the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has asked the Salem District Collector and the police to submit a report. But allegations have been raised against the police that they are delaying inquiry and are trying to protect the professor.

Based on the article carried by The Hindu on July 11 titled ‘Ph.D. scholars of Periyar University accuse Tamil Department professor of caste discrimination’, National Commission for Scheduled Caste Director S. Ravivarman, in a notice on July 14 to the Collector and the police, asked them to submit the facts and information on the action taken on the allegations/matters to him within five days either by post or in person or by any other means of communication.

But, three weeks have passed and the police have not inquired with the students who lodged complaints. The commission had also sent a copy of the notice to the District Adi Dravidar Welfare Office.

Faculty members of PU, on condition of anonymity, said that the commission notice reached the police within three days. On July 29, two police officers came to PU and talked to Tamil professor T. Periasamy in his room for one hour. Later, a police officer openly commented in support of the professor and criticised the students.

“We suspect the police are trying to delay this inquiry to save the professor. Some private college owners who belong to the professor’s caste are trying to save him through their political influence. This same Karuppur police diluted the fund misappropriation probe in the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana skill development scheme last year against the former PU administration and saved the officials. Even the notice matter was kept in secret by the police for the past three weeks,” faculty members added.

Meanwhile, the PU administration has constituted a three-member committee headed by former Tamil Nadu Agricultural University dean Manian with two Periyar University syndicate members, Venkatachalam and Krishnaveni, to inquire into the students’ complaints and the committee has started inquiry.

When contacted, the police officials and Adi Dravidar Welfare Department officials said they are yet to inquire with the students.