The Karnataka government is going to bring the bill in the name of Dalit PHD student Rohit Vemula, who committed suicide in 2016. The bill may be introduced during the monsoon session of the assembly. It is reported that there are provisions of heavy punishment against the culprits of discrimination.
However, nothing has been officially said by the state government regarding its provisions.
Who will be included
Karnataka Rohith Vemula (Prevention of Exclusion or Injustice) (Right to Education and Dignity) Bill, 2025 or Karnataka Rohit Vemula (Right to Injile) (Right to Honor) Bill, can be introduced during the 2025 monsoon session. It will include Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC) and minorities.
What are the provisions
It is reported that the aim of the bill is to provide SC, ST, OBC and minorities to provide access to the right to education and education in private and government universities. According to the report of the Indian Express, the draft states that under this, bail will not be done if the crime is proved. Also, if someone discriminates or cooperates in discrimination or provokes, he will be punished.
There is a provision of one year jail and a fine of Rs 10,000 for the first time. At the same time, the court may allow compensation to be given directly to the victim. This amount can go up to 1 lakh. There is a provision of three years in jail and a fine of Rs 1 lakh for repeated crime.
Institutions will also be fined
It is reported that if an institution violates the provisions of providing education for all classes, castes, creeds, sexes or nations, then it will be punished. According to the report, the bill states that financial assistance or grant will not be given to such institutions by the state government.
Rohit Vemula, a student of Hyderabad University, committed suicide in January 2016 due to alleged caste discrimination. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to implement the ‘Rohit Vemula Act’.
Congress allegations
According to the agency talks, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister BV Malu and Congress Scheduled Caste Department chief Rajendra Pal Gautam said in a press conference at the party headquarters here on Friday that a new type of India has emerged after 2014. Earlier, when there was an incident of harassment with Dalit, backward, tribal students, then the government used to stand with the victims, while those who were accused of it were punished, but after 2014, the BJP government stands with them.
Referring to the Rohit Vemula murder case in this regard, he said that on January 17 in 2016, under what circumstances Rohit Vemula had to die. His scholarship was stopped by the government for seven months and he was tortured in many ways. This case of harassment happened inside Hyderabad University.
The case was raised by the Ambedkar Association and after that Sushil Kumar was asked to apologize in writing but instead of apologizing, he lodged a false FIR against the BJP with help. All the leaders of the BJP government were found in it. The situation was created in this mamle that Rohit Vemula committed suicide.