The Allahabad High Court has initiated a judicial investigation into claims of caste-based discrimination at Dr. Rajendra Prasad National Law University, Prayagraj (RPNLU). These allegations, directed towards a faculty member, Dr. Deepak Sharma, have been brought to the forefront by a BA LLB (Hons.) student. The case, titled Shubhendu Anand And Another v State of UP And 5 Others, is being overseen by Justice Vinod Diwakar.
Justice Diwakar has appointed Judge of Small Causes Court Archana Singh and Chief Judicial Magistrate Arun Kumar Yadava to lead the inquiry into the allegations against Dr. Sharma, who serves as Head of the Department of Law and Warden of the Boys’ Hostel. The court’s decision, issued on September 16, emphasizes the gravity of these allegations and the necessity of an unbiased examination, ensuring the accused receives a fair opportunity to present their case.
The primary aim of this investigation is to determine whether students from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have been subjected to any caste-based discrimination or harassment by Dr. Sharma or any other university personnel. Additionally, the court seeks to evaluate the university’s response to such complaints in accordance with relevant regulations.
The court has mandated that the identities of students providing testimony must be protected throughout the inquiry process. The investigation is expected to conclude by September 24, with the findings to be submitted in a sealed report. Until the inquiry’s completion, Dr. Sharma has been relieved of all administrative duties, although no formal conclusions have been reached regarding his conduct.
This judicial order was prompted by a petition from a PhD scholar and the affected student, who had previously lodged a complaint with the Vice-Chancellor without receiving a satisfactory response. Filed on August 20, the complaint accuses Dr. Sharma, identified as belonging to an ‘upper caste,’ of unfairly marking the student’s exams and making derogatory remarks about the student’s caste and the associated reservation benefits.
In response, the court has instructed the Vice-Chancellor to establish an independent committee to reassess the student’s examination papers from the fifth semester, specifically those graded by Dr. Sharma. The committee is to complete its review and report to the Vice-Chancellor within a week, who will then present the findings to the court at the next hearing.
Furthermore, the court has directed the Vice-Chancellor to ensure that neither petitioner faces negative repercussions, whether academic or administrative, as a result of seeking judicial intervention. Dr. Sharma is also prohibited from participating in any evaluation or disciplinary actions involving the petitioner-student.
Advocate Shivam Agarwal is representing the petitioners, while Advocate Gaurav Tripathi represents the respondents. Dr. Sharma’s defense is led by Senior Advocate Prabhakar Awasthi.
