DU scholar files police complaint against dept head over ‘casteist slur’

NEWDELHI: A PHD student at Delhi University’s department of Buddhist Studies has filed a police complaint against the head of department, alleging that the head made casteist remarks when he visited the head to enquire about his classes.

Akshay Kumar, a first-year PHD student, was admitted in the course in last year July. He said he visited the office of HOD KTS Sarao on Tuesday to ask about the course work classes for PHD, which is yet to begin.

Kumar, a member of Congress backed National Students’ Union of India, is a former DU students’ union secretary. “He first said he will inform us when the classes begin. I asked him to specify when the classes will begin as we have been waiting for long. He asked my category and started making casteist remarks against me as I am a Dalit,” Kumar said.

Kumar alleged that Sarao threatened to stop his PHD.

Deputy commissioner of police (North Delhi) Jatin Narwal confirmed the receipt of the complaint at the Maurice Nagar police station and said that they are looking into the matter. “We have initiated an enquiry and an additional DCP rank officer has been tasked with probing the matter. The student has alleged in his complaint that casteist remarks were made against him by the head,” said Narwal. Sarao, however, declined the allegations and said Kumar had misbehaved with him. Sarao said he told Kumar that classes will begin once admissions in the course are complete as PHD admissions happen twice in an academic year.