Kshitiz Gaur | TNN | Jan 21, 2016, 

 

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AJMER: A local court here has ordered registration of a case under the SC/ST Act against seven faculty members of Ajmer‘s Central University of Rajasthan (CURAJ) for allegedly harassing a dalit scholar.

The order was issued on Monday after Umesh Kumar Jonwal moved the court accusing the varsity of arbitrary termination and harassment at the hands of Jagdish Jadhav, A K Pujari, J P Singh, A K Gupta, R K Pardasani, S N Ambedkar and Atiq Ahmed.

Jonwal pointed out he was issued three expulsion letters on different dates in October for remaining absent from the university for more than 15 days.

He added there is no provision for a scholar like him to remain present in the university daily as he is a recipient of JRF (junior research fellowship).

Jonwal alleged a professor demanded Rs 10,000 from the fellowship per semester. He has submitted receipts of depositing Rs 10,000 three times in the professor’s bank account.

“As soon as I stopped paying the money demanded by professor, they initiated action of expulsion from the university,” he said.

“I submitted illness certificate to the university but it was not accepted.”

Jonwal said he was threatened he will not able to complete his doctorate. “My guide threw my papers out and abused me.”

CURAJ dean student welfare B L Meena said investigation was pending in the case and he cannot state anything on its merit.

But he added rules and regulations for expelling a research scholar from the university have been violated. “Clause 4.7 and 28 of the university ordinance under which the action was taken against Jonwal was not followed.”

He said research scholars are not required to attend the university daily. “Their admission can be discontinued if they remain continuously absent for 15 days but the same is regularized after paying fine of Rs 100.”

Jadhav maintained Jonwal was suspended “on grounds of chronic absenteeism” since he enrolled in 2013.

“In fact, from the past six months, he had not attended any class. Dean academics sent repeated reminders before he was suspended,” said Jadhav.

He said Jonwal had challenged his expulsion before the Rajasthan high court and National Commission for Scheduled Caste and the case remains pending.

“As far as money he is talking about, there is no record to prove that he has given any amount to us,” he added.http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Rajasthan-court-acts-against-university-for-harassing-dalit/articleshow/50662624.cms