SC panel to verify Vemula’s caste

Amaravati: The National SC/ST Commission will conduct an enquiry to determine the caste of the University of Hyderabad Ph D student Rohit Vemula in Delhi on Monday. The Guntur Tahasildar’s office had given SC certificates to the deceased scholar in 2007 and 2015. An SC, ST Atrocity case was slapped against Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya in Hyderabad by those supporting Rohit’s case, who claimed that he belonged to schedule caste community.

In an enquiry conducted by the Telangana police officials, Rohit’s father made it clear that they belong to Vaddera caste, which is part of Backward Castes. The Telangana state police officials also recorded the statement of Rohit’s father in Palnadu area of Guntur district on the same. Meanwhile, the National SC/ST commission directed the district collector Kantilal Dande to appear before commission for enquiry on Rohit’s caste.

Responding the commission orders, Kantilal Dande went to Delhi to appear before the Commission with necessary records. The revenue officials on the condition of anonymity informed that they had given twice SC certificates to the Vemula Rohit. The National SC/ST Commission will also conduct inquiry into circumstances forced Vemula Rohit to commit suicide.

Meanwhile, the chairman of National SC--ST Commission P.L.Punia had already asked for a report on the expulsion of University of Hyderabad students by the authorities concerned.