INDIA: Man denied lecturer’s post due to caste based discrimination in Uttar Pradesh 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from reliable sources about the discrimination of a person belonging to the Schedules Caste, vying for the post of a lecturer, by the District Inspector of School (DIOS) and college authorities in Uttar Pradesh.

Mr. Lal Bahadur Ram appeared for the Intermediate Education Service Selection Board examinations in Allahabad, and was subsequently selected for the post of English lecturer in December 2004. According to the verification letter (dated 31 January 2005) he received, he was posted to the Kamalakar Chaubey Adarsh Seva Vidyalaya Inter College, Varanasi.

However, when he went to collect his appointment letter from the DIOS, he was told that his appointment was delayed as the post for which he had applied was not reserved for Scheduled Castes but was to be filled on the basis of promotions. It is however alleged that this information is incorrect and the post is not only reserved for Schedules Castes but also vacant at the moment. It is also alleged that the DIOS, Manager of the college and the Principal of the college are all upper caste Brahmins who are opposed to Mr. Lal’s appointment and are providing incorrect information to other concerned authorities.

Mr. Lal is now unemployed and finding it extremely difficult to not only support himself but also his elderly widowed mother who is dependent on him. Unable to take charge of his duty at present, he is also concerned for his future prospects in the field of teaching.

In light of the above, we urge you to write to the Director of Intermediate Education, Uttar Pradesh, asking him to ensure that Mr. Lal is immediately appointed to the post for which he is eligible. Please also write to the other authorities asking them to take action against all those responsible for Mr. Lal’s present predicament.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victim: Mr. Lal Bahadur Ram, son of Bhulle Ram
Address: Dhaurahara Village, Chaubeypur District, Varanasi
Alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr.Omkar Shukla, District Inspector of School
2. Mr.Padmakar Chaubey, Manager of Kamalakar Chaubey Adarsh Seva Vidyalaya Inter College, Varanasi.
3. Mr.Vijendra Chaubey, Manager of Kamalakar Chaubey Adarsh Seva Vidyalaya Inter College, Varanasi.

Case Details

In 2003, Mr.Lal Bahadur Ram, belonging to the Schedules Caste, applied for the post of an English lecturer after the Intermediate Education Service Selection Board, Allahabad advertised for it. He appeared for the examinations on August 3, attended an interview on September 14 and in the results declared on December 14 was selected for the post.

A verification letter confirming his selection to this post was sent to the District Inspector of School (DIOS) on 31 January 2005. According to this letter, Mr. Lal was posted to the Kamalakar Chaubey Adarsh Seva Vidyalaya Inter College, Varanasi. However, when he went to collect his appointment letter from the office of the DIOS, the head clerk refused to give this to him saying that they were seeking some clarifications from the college regarding his appointment. Later, the office told him that the Manager of the College had informed them that the post in question was not reserved for a Scheduled Caste and would be filled on the basis of internal promotions.

However, it is alleged that this information is incorrect. It has also come to notice that Mr Arvind Kumar Kuril had actually been selected for this English lecturer’s post by the Intermediate Education Service Selection Board, Allahabad but did not take charge as he had already been posted elsewhere. This information had been conveyed to the DIOS and therefore, there was no reason for them to deny Mr. Lal this post. Out of the six reserved posts for the Schedules Castes, two still remain vacant and there are no teachers (out of those in the reserved posts) due for promotion within the next ten years.

It is also alleged that the DIOS along with the Manager and Principal of the college are Brahmins and hence opposed to Mr. Lal’s appointment. This not only violates the Indian Constitution but also that of the Scheduled Caste and Schedules Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Mr. Lal is now only unemployed and finding it increasingly difficult to support both himself and his elderly widowed mother.

Caste based discrimination is a common occurrence in Indian society and is practised quite regularly even today. It is unfortunate that people like Mr. Lal, despite being eligible for their posts, are denied their rights due to the prevailing upper caste dominance in many areas.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write to the Director of Intermediate Education, Uttar Pradesh, asking him to ensure that Mr. Lal is immediately allowed to take up the post for which he is eligible and other concerned authorities to take action against those denying the victim his rights.