Mothers of Rohit Vemula, Payal Tadvi move SC seeking measures to end caste discrimination on campuses

A petition have been moved in the Apex Court seeking directions for strict measures to end caste discrimination in university campuses, by mothers of Payal Tadvi & Rohith Vemula who had committed suicide over alleged caste discrimination
Abeda Salim Tadvi, mother of Payal Tadvi & Radhika Vemula,  mother Rohit Vemula respectively, in their petition sought a direction for strict compliance of UGC regulation of 2012 which restricts such discrimination.
Radhika Vemula had earlier this year vowed to fight the communal forces, which she alleged were responsible for her son's death.
The petition also sought that a direction to be issued to all Universities & HEI's to establish Equal Opportunity Cells on the lines of such other existing anti-discrimination internal complaints mechanisms.
Tadvi, who belonged to the Tadvi Bhil Muslim community, a Scheduled Tribe, had allegedly ended her life in her hostel room at BYL Nair Hospital here on May 22, allegedly after facing harassment from her seniors due to her caste.
On the other hand, Vemula, a Ph.D. scholar at the Hyderabad Central University, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in a hostel room on January 17, 2016. He was allegedly upset over disciplinary actions that were taken against him by the university.
The petitioners sought an order from the SC to direct the respondents -- Union of India & University Grants Commission -- to direct all universities including deemed universities & higher educational institutions (HEI) to ensure compliance with the UGC Equity Regulations in letter & in spirit.
The petition said, "The internal complaints mechanism should include members from the SC, ST communities & independent representatives from NGO's or social activists to ensure objectivity & impartiality in the process & any such direction that the Court may issue".
The petition sought direction to all universities & HEI's to upload on their websites all measures for elimination of caste-based discrimination & procedure.
It also sought a direction from the court with respect to the punishments for breaching any law & to ensure a wider outreach through publicity & participation of governmental & non-governmental actors on the UGC Equity Regulations.

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