Karnataka’s Vemula Bill seeks to ban probingstudents’ family backgrounds

Bengaluru: The state govt, which approved the Rohith Vemula Bill, has listed 30 discriminatory actions in higher educational institutions which may attract penal clauses under the proposed law.The Karnataka Rohith Vemula (Prevention of Discrimination, Exclusion or Injustice) (Right to Education and Dignity) Bill 2026, accessed by TOI, makes note of a series of "perceived" actions that may debilitate the students from SC/ST communities.This is in addition to the more commonly heard discriminatory actions of compelling them to vacate hostels, drop out of college due to casteist slurs, not allowing their participation in classrooms or academic engagements and segregating them.Some of the specific discriminatory actions mentioned in the bill suggest that no SC/ST student can be "forced" or "steered" into actions that are against their beliefs or targets their background.For instance, during the admission processes or interviews, questions probing their social background or family occupation in ways that disadvantage or humiliate SC/ST candidates, rather than limiting the inquiry to academic qualifications or subject-related competencies, cannot be asked.Furthermore, curriculum content that glorifies certain castes or portrays members of SC/STs in a derogatory or demeaning manner, thereby perpetuating caste-based prejudice and discrimination, will violate the proposed law.The scope also extends to faculty who can be held responsible for violating the proposed law if "unjust failing or awarding disproportionately low marks to SC/ST" are given in viva-voce and lab exams despite their "satisfactory or high performance".Institutions cannot impose unequal access schedules for faculty interactions on SC/ST students, in a manner that differentiate them from other students on the basis of their caste identity.Institutions and staff will also feel the heat of the authorities if they "force" SC/ST students' participation or attendance in religious or cultural events contrary to their personal beliefs and practices, and steering the community members towards particular disciplines, fields or career paths arbitrarily deemed "suitable" for them.