Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Probe against English and Foreign Languages University dons

Probe against English and Foreign Languages University dons

TNN | Nov 16, 2011, 03.37AM IST

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HYDERABAD: The Osmania University (OU) police on Monday recorded the statements of twoEnglish and Foreign Languages University (Eflu) professors for allegedly abusing a Dalit student in the name of his caste and forcing him to quit studies. 

R Jayamurugan, a Dalit student pursuing BA II year (German) at the Eflu, was allegedly harassed by professors of German department, Meenakshi Reddy and Adrian Francis, by failing him consistently in his semester examinations and forcing him to discontinue the course. A complaint was filed by Karthik Navayan, an activist, on behalf of the student with the National Human Rights Commission. 

The OU police summoned the professors as they received a letter from NHRC directing them to enquire into the allegations. 

On August 16, Meenakshi Reddy, dean of German department, allegedly asked 26-year-old Jayamurugan to get out of the class after verbally abusing him, according to police. 

"According to Murugan, Meenakshi Reddy said that he should rather take up his caste (pallan) profession than waste university money," OU inspector P Ashok said. 

Murugan claimed he was failed four times in Culture and Civilization of the third semester by Adrian Francis intentionally. "According to Murugan, the professor once remarked that he (Murugan) managed to get admission in Eflu only because of reservations," the inspector said. Murugan added that because of the harassment, he left the university and went back to his home town. 

In their statements, the professors denied making any casteist comments. However, police said that there were some eyewitnesses to the derogatory comments made by the professors. "Some eyewitnesses confirmed the statement given by Murugan and the same will be mentioned in the report to be sent to the human rights commission this week," the inspector added. 

Meanwhile, other students of the university have also come up with similar allegations against Meenakshi Reddy. "I have secured an A grade in English, but I was failed in German. The professor was rude to me several times," a BA III semester student said. 
-- 
B.Karthik Navayan,

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