Delhi University professor faces expulsion demand over alleged casteist remark

The Indian National Teachers Congress (INTEC), a teachers' body with links to the Congress party, has written to Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh demanding the expulsion of a Political Science professor over an alleged casteist remark made during a television debate.

In a letter dated August 20, INTEC condemned the remark as “deeply offensive and derogatory toward the Dalit community,” stating that it “perpetuates harmful historical prejudices, promotes social division, and flies in the face of our constitutional values of equality, dignity, and social justice.”

The letter also emphasised the responsibility of educators, saying: “Academics and leaders in higher education carry a duty to foster social harmony and uphold egalitarian principles. Utterances of this nature degrade the standing of an educator and undermine the inclusive academic environment that the University of Delhi strives to maintain.”

The professor, whose name has not been disclosed in the complaint, has not yet responded publicly to the allegations. University officials have also not commented on the matter, and no formal inquiry has been announced so far.

Caste-based discrimination is prohibited under Article 15 of the Indian Constitution, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, provides legal safeguards against casteist slurs and hate speech. The demand for action comes against the broader backdrop of ongoing debates in India about caste sensitivity in educational institutions.

INTEC's affiliation with a political party may draw scrutiny over the motives of the complaint, but the allegations themselves pertain to a matter of public interest, given the constitutional mandate against caste discrimination. The university is expected to follow due process in assessing the complaint, ensuring fairness to all parties involved.

This incident highlights the necessity for civil discourse, especially in academic settings, where teachers are expected to model constitutional values of fraternity and dignity for all individuals.