Caste ‘Discrimination’ Against Dalit Professor: Police Case Against IIM Bangalore Director, 7 Faculty Members

Bengaluru: Bengaluru police have registered a case against the director and seven professors of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) for allegedly discriminating against a Dalit associate professor on the basis of his caste.

Based on the complaint of associate professor Gopal Das, a case was registered against the IIMB director and other faculty members under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), reported PTI.

“We received the complaint and filed a case. However, those named in the FIR claimed that they obtained a stay order from the court the same evening. But we are yet to receive the order,” said an officer.

According to police, Das alleged that eight persons deliberately revealed and publicised his caste at workplace and he was denied equal opportunity. Das also alleged that he was threatened and mentally harassed.

The IIMB defended its director and the other professors, claiming that rather than harassment or discrimination, Das has received full support from the institute since he was recruited in 2018 — starting from his application for the position of Assistant Professor but being offered the role of Associate Professor based on his qualifications and experience.

The IIMB further said in its statement that Das has received significant incentives for his research and teaching, over and above his salary as per the Union government’s 7th central pay commission, and also been given positions of responsibility including Chairperson, Institutional Review Board; Member, Career Development Services Committee and Member, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

“He has taught courses of his choice across different academic programmes of the Institute. Dr Das’ allegations of discrimination against the Institute and its faculty arose only when his application for promotion was put on hold because of complaints of harassment lodged by some doctoral students against him. An enquiry conducted by IIMB as per the rules, with the committee including a reputed academic from the SC category from an eminent institution, found that the students’ complaints were justified,” IIMB stated.

However, the state’s Social Welfare Department has directed the Karnataka police chief to initiate legal action on the complaint of Das based on an investigation report of the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement.