NALSAR VC dismisses allegations of “unfairly treating” SC/ST students; Says University committed to universal equality

Dismissing a report in The Hindu that claimed officials at NALSAR University have been “unfairly treating” SC/ST students, the University’s Vice Chancellor has called the news report a “figment of someone’s imagination”..According to The Hindu, the unfair treatment has been meted out to students who have availed the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme, with NALSAR officials demanding that the students first pay the fees and then return the amount once the government releases the funds..The piece goes on to state that the Student’s Federation of India has made a representation to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Faizan Mustafa, requesting that no fees be collected from these students..Strongly refuting these claims, Mustafa said that he was shocked at reading the news reports and that no such representation has been received. In a press release, he goes on to say that,.“Some very significant steps were taken at the University after 2012 such as “allotment of hostel through lottery” so that SC/ST students are not segregated from other students and establishment of a full-fledged SC/ST cell.”.With respect to the government scholarship, the press release notes that,.“Sometimes there is a delay from the Central Government in sending scholarship grants to the University but as soon as University receives money from the Government of India, it immediately transfers it to the scholarship awardees. The other crucial fact is that University admits students through CLAT and fee is to be paid to CLAT office.”.As for the claim that the examination results of these students were withheld, Mustafa says that is a standard practice in cases where students do not clear their pending dues, adding that the rights “marginalized communities” is a topic close to his heart since he “teaches this subject.”