close_game
close_game

Notice to IITs on campus placements after caste bias alleged

Jan 16, 2025 04:25 AM IST

The notice follows a complaint from an IIT-Bombay alumnus alleging discriminatory practices against Scheduled Caste students during campus placements

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has issued a notice to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, IIT-Delhi and the Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, directing them to submit an action taken report within 15 days.

Singh alleged that both IIT-Bombay and IIT-Delhi require SC students to disclose their caste category and category rank from their JEE during the placement process.
Singh alleged that both IIT-Bombay and IIT-Delhi require SC students to disclose their caste category and category rank from their JEE during the placement process.

The notice follows a complaint from Dheeraj Singh, an IIT-Bombay alumnus, alleging discriminatory practices against Scheduled Caste (SC) students during campus placements.

The complaint, filed in November 2023, highlights concerns about alleged institutional discrimination against SC students.

READ | IIT Bombay’s 1999 alumni pledge 21.2 crore for Legacy Project

The NCSC has warned the institutions that failure to comply with the directive would result in summons for an in-person hearing.

In his letter to the commission, Singh alleged that both IIT-Bombay and IIT-Delhi require SC students to disclose their caste category and category rank from their Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) during the placement process. Singh argued that this practice facilitates profiling and discrimination.

The letter states, “IIT-Bombay and IIT-Delhi are directly involved in discriminatory practices against 300 SC students participating in campus placements. Students are mandated to disclose their JEE category and rank, a blatant attempt to enable discrimination by placement officials. Testimonials from several students confirm this profiling, have raised fears that private sector recruiters may eliminate candidates based on their category information.”

READ | Chennai: IIT Madras scholar harassed at tea shop outside institute; accused held

In the letter, Singh urged that such caste-based discriminatory practices be stopped immediately and those guilty of committing and facilitating them be brought to legal justice.

Singh had attached evidence, including placement forms, to substantiate his claims.

READ | IIT Delhi launches executive programme in robotics to bridge the skill gap

On this notice, he said that private sector companies, which are not bound by reservation policies, often compel students to provide caste-related information, which increases the risk of bias. Singh questioned the relevance of using four-year-old JEE ranks as a selection criterion, stating, “Why aren’t recruiters relying on academic performance during the degree? Does this indicate a lack of confidence in IIT’s academic rigour?”

Singh also criticised the institutions for failing to protect SC students from discriminatory practices in private-sector hiring.

Attempts to contact the administrations of IIT-Bombay and IIT-Delhi for their comments on the matter yielded no response.

rec-icon Recommended Topics
Share this article
Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!

Stay updated with all the Breaking News and Latest News from Mumbai. Click here for comprehensive coverage of top Cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and more across India along with Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News.
See More
Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!

Stay updated with all the Breaking News and Latest News from Mumbai. Click here for comprehensive coverage of top Cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and more across India along with Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On