29.01.2025..Untouchablity News.....अछूत समाचार.தீண்டாமை செய்திகள்.by Team சிவாஜி. शिवाजी .Shivaji.asivaji1962@gmail.com.9444917060.asivaji1961@gmail.com.facebook.sivajiyogatiruvannamalai.X.ShivajiA479023.
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'Arunachal was a Buddhist majority, but now...': PM Modi's top advisor on demographic change in India
In May last year, the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) came out with a paper that showed the share of the Hindu population in India decreased by 7.82 per cent between 1950 and 2015.Why?
- Updated Jan 26, 2025, 5:59 PM IST
Dr Shamika Ravi, a Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime MinisterDr Shamika Ravi, a Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, has said that the drop in the fertility rate among Muslims does not mean that demographic change is not happening in the country. She explained that as long as there is a difference in growth, regardless of the level, the share of one will increase and the share of the other will decrease.
"The fertility rates of the different religions are different. The only thing we hear about is that the fertility rate of the Muslim population is declining faster. Yes, it is declining faster. That is arithmetically the fact, but that does not change things on the ground and that is not even the issue. The real concern is shares of the population within a district," Ravi said in a conversation with ANI Editor Smita Prakash.
In May last year, the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) came out with a paper that showed the share of the Hindu population in India decreased by 7.82 per cent between 1950 and 2015, while that of the Muslims saw a 43.15 per cent jump in the same period.
"In India, the share of the majority Hindu population decreased by 7.82 percent between 1950 and 2015 (from 84.68 percent to 78.06 percent). The share of the Muslim population in 1950 was 9.84 percent and increased to 14.09 percent in 2015 — a 43.15 percent increase in their share,” states the working paper, Share of Religious Minorities: A Cross-Country Analysis (1950-2015), authored by Shamika Ravi, Apurv Kumar Mishra and Abraham Jose.
Ravi said that the council conducted the study because it wanted to see what was happening to the relative share of minorities in India vis a vis other countries of the world. So it's really a cross-country study for 169 countries from 1950-2015. "We find that in Africa, 22 nations used to be Animism. The majority religion was Animism in 22 countries of Africa. Today, it is zero. None of them are animists because fundamentally they've all converted to Christianity or Islam. So conversion is driving a lot of minority the way we define for many parts of the world."
Ravi said that demographic change has a direct bearing on politics, the way institutions are run, the way one spends money, and fiscal policies. India is more like the Western democracies where the share of the minority is actually growing, she added. "That is the larger lesson from that paper. we are the only country where the majority is shrinking and minority share is increasing."
"When an NGO will go out and say 'oh but the fertility is declining', I'm sorry fertility is not the only driver. The kind of growth you have seen cannot be sustained only by fertility. Fertility is a factor but beyond that, conversion. The kind of changes you have seen in Tamil Nadu, in most parts of Northeast. Arunachal Pradesh used to be a Buddhist majority till 2001, in 2011 it's a Christian majority. If you look at what is happening in Assam, West Bengal many parts of Western UP, Northern Kerala, and Southern Karnataka...there is differentials infertility, there is conversion and there is migration."
According to the economist, no matter how fast the fertility is decreasing that does not determine the share. "The share is determined by the relative growth of the two. And as long as there is a difference in growth, regardless of the level, the share of one will increase and the share of the other will decrease."
Ravi dismissed claims that political narratives drive demographic shifts, asserting that the reverse is true. “It’s not the politics of Modi or Rahul Gandhi that’s causing these changes. It’s the ground realities—identity, migration, fertility—that drive politics. Every campaign, every political utterance reflects what’s happening on the ground.”
After the study was published, she said, she faced pushback from only academia and that to from people from the previous establishment who did not want to look at these data points. "They're uncomfortable because these are hard facts they don't want to face. Let's recognize that because demographic changes are glacial, they are really slow but they're happening. The politics is changing day to day so let's not even for a while delude ourselves into saying that it's the politics which is driving changes of demography and religion. No, it's the other way around."
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CM Siddaramaiah expresses concern over rate of conviction in atrocities cases falling from 10% in 2020 to 7% now
Meeting to be convened soon to review injustice done to employees and officers belonging to SC/ST communities in promotions in different government departments
Updated - January 28, 2025 07:53 pm IST - Bengaluru
A file photo of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah | Photo Credit: M A Sriram
The rate of conviction in cases of atrocities committed on people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, which was about 10% in 2020, has fallen to 7 % now.
After chairing a meeting of the State-level vigilance and monitoring committee for the welfare of SC/STs here on Tuesday (January 28, 2025), Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters that he had directed officials to increase the conviction rate to 10%. “The public prosecutors and the Police Department should have a review meeting. The deputy commissioners should also review the cases every three months to increase the rate of conviction. The government will act against those who delay the proceedings,” he said.
Dalit man’s in-laws, friend booked over his ‘honour killing’ in Telangana’s Suryapet
The man’s father said his son was killed because of his inter-caste marriage six months ago.
2 min read
Hours after a Dalit man was found dead on the banks of a canal on the River Musi in Telangana’s Suryapet district, the police late Monday booked four people, including his father- and brothers-in-law, based on a complaint by his father.
Krishna, 32, who belonged to the Scheduled Caste (SC) Mala community, was found dead on the banks of a canal on the River Musi near Pillalamarri Monday morning.
The Suryapet police booked his wife Kotla Bhargavi’s father Kotla Saidulu, her brothers Kotla Naveen and Kotla Vamshee, and their friend Bairu Mahesh, based on a complaint from his father David alleging “honour killing” of his son by his daughter-in-law’s family. The four men were booked under sections 103(1),61(2),r/w 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
In his complaint, David, a church pastor, said the accused, who belong to the Backward Classes (BC)’s Goud community, conspired and murdered his son. He cited Krishna’s inter-caste marriage with Bhargavi six months ago as the reason for the accused holding a grudge against his son.
“Bhargavi and David are alleging that Saidulu, Naveen, and Vamshi are behind Krishna’s murder. There are two attempted murder cases against Krishna in Suryapet town police station and four similar cases against Naveen too. We are investigating all angles. We will arrest the culprits soon. The four suspects are absconding,” N Balu Naik, Sub-inspector, Suryapet Rural police station, told indianexpress.com
Naik said Krishna and Naveen were friends, and Krishna had been in love with Naveen’s sister, Bhargavi. Despite opposition from Naveen’s family, the couple went ahead with the marriage even as Bhargavi’s family was looking for a groom for her. Bhargavi and Krishna had been living at Krishna’s home in Mammillagadda for the last six months after their marriage, said Naik.
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On Sunday evening, their mutual friend Bairu Mahesh called Krishna and he left home without sharing any details with his wife.
Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan among 18 booked in caste discrimination case in Bengaluru
A former faculty member of IISc claimed he was falsely implicated in a honey trap case in 2014, which led to his dismissal. Kris Gopalakrishnan is a member of the Board of Trustees of IISc.
The complainant claimed that he was falsely implicated in a honey trap case in 2014, leading to his dismissal from IISC, where Kris Gopalakrishnan serves as a member of the Board of Trustees. (PTI Photo)The Bengaluru police on Monday booked Infosys co-founder Senapathy Kris Gopalakrishnan, former Indian Institute of Science (IISc) director Balaram P and 16 others under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act following a complaint by a former IISc faculty member.
The case was filed at the Sadashiva Nagar police station as per the directive of the 71st City Civil and Sessions Court (CCH). The complaint against the accused was lodged by Sanna Durgappa, a member of the Bovi community and former assistant professor at IISc’s Centre for Sustainable Technology. Durgappa claimed that he was falsely implicated in a honey trap case in 2014, leading to his dismissal from IISC, where Kris Gopalakrishnan serves as a member of the Board of Trustees. He also alleged caste-based abuse and threats.
- On Republic Day, a shocking incident occurred in Amritsar when a man vandalised the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar. The perpetrator climbed onto the statue using a ladder struck the Baba Saheb Ambedkar's statue with a hammer.
Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said on Tuesday that AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal should apologise for an incident of a man attempting to vandalise a statue of B R Ambedkar in Punjab's Amritsar. Further, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale demanded the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the vandalisation of Baba Saheb Ambedkar's statue in Amritsar.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is in power in Punjab.
Ambedkar's Statue Vandalised in Punjab
On Republic Day, 26 January, a shocking incident occurred in Amritsar when a man vandalised the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar, the father of the Indian Constitution.
The perpetrator, identified as Akashdeep Singh from Moga, climbed onto the statue using a ladder that had been set up for political leaders to pay floral tributes and struck Ambedkar's statue with a hammer, causing significant damage to both the statue and a sculpture of the Constitution placed beside it.
The vandaliser was caught hold of by onlookers in Amritsar, who then handed him over to the police.
The incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from various political leaders and community organisations.
Meghwal Demands Apology from Kejriwal
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday called for AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal to apologise for the vandalism, stating that the incident reflects poorly on the AAP government, which is currently in power in Punjab.
Meghwal pointed out the stark contrast between the respect shown to the Constitution during Republic Day celebrations in Delhi and the vandalism occurring in Amritsar.
"On January 26, tableaux were being taken out on Delhi's Kartavya Path and respect was being shown to the Constitution, whereas in Amritsar, Baba Saheb's statue was being vandalised," Meghwal told reporters in Rajasthan's Bikaner.
"Arvind Kejriwal should apologise for that," he said.
Athawale Seeks CM Mann's Resignation
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale also weighed in on the issue, demanding the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over what he termed as "laxity" in handling the situation.
Charging the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, Athawale, the Republican Party of India chief, also said the person involved in the act "should be hanged".
"The incident in Amritsar is deplorable, but it is being taken lightly by the AAP government. Bhagwant Mann should take moral responsibility and resign as chief minister of Punjab," he said.
Athawale stated, "The incident in Amritsar is deplorable... Bhagwant Mann should take moral responsibility and resign as chief minister." The incident has not only ignited outrage but has also led to calls for a thorough investigation into how such an act could occur under the current administration.
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Bandh in Jalandhar, Phagwara over Ambedkar statue vandalism
Protesters laid siege to key points on the Amritsar-Delhi national highway running through Jalandhar and Phagwara, prompting police to divert traffic. Road blockades till 5pm.
A total bandh was observed in Jalandhar district and Phagwara town in adjoining Kapurthala district on Tuesday to protest the attempt to vandalise a life-size statue of BR Ambedkar in Amritsar on Republic Day.
Dalit organisations had called the bandh following which nearly 2,000 police personnel were deployed across Jalandhar district, including Kartarpur, Adampur and Bhogpur.
Protesters laid siege to key points on the Amritsar-Delhi national highway running through Jalandhar and Phagwara, prompting the police to divert traffic to alternate routes.
Jalandhar Rural SSP Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh and commissioner of police Swapan Sharma were taking rounds of their respective areas to ensure law and order.
All schools, colleges, private and government offices remained closed in Jalandhar district and Phagwara due to the protests. The protesters were allowing only emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, to ply.
Arun Sandhal, an activist of the Sant Kabir Tiger Force, said the protests and road blockades would continue till 5pm.
Police on Sunday arrested Akash Singh, a resident of Dharamkot in Punjab’s Moga district, for allegedly attempting to damage the Ambedkar statue at the Town Hall on Heritage Street that leads to the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
A video clip of the incident was widely circulated on social media, showing a man climbing atop the statue using a steel ladder and carrying a hammer. He is seen hitting the statue multiple times with the hammer. The man also caused damage to the Constitution book, which is part of the statue. He was later apprehended and handed over to police.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, Amritsar police commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said an FIR has been registered under relevant legal provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Militarisation and Adivasi Rights: A Growing Conflict in Bastar.The CPI(ML) Liberation accuses BJP-led governments of waging a war against Adivasis in Chhattisgarh's Bastar through increased militarisation, under the guise of making India Maoist-free by 2026. The party condemns the extra-judicial violence, calls for the release of imprisoned activists, and demands respect for Adivasi rights.
- The CPI(ML) Liberation has accused the BJP-led governments in India of launching a militarisation campaign in resource-rich tribal areas like Chhattisgarh's Bastar, labeling it a 'war' on Adivasis.
According to the Left party, security forces killed 47 Maoists in Chhattisgarh in the first three weeks of January alone. Reports indicate 250 Maoists were killed statewide in 2024. Home Minister Amit Shah has set a deadline of March 2026 to make India Maoist-free, signaling an increase in military camps and use of advanced warfare equipment.
The CPI(ML) calls for halting this 'war of extermination,' providing democratic spaces for Adivasis, and releasing imprisoned activists. Since 2019, 290 security camps have been set up in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, sparking protests against the lack of consent from gram sabhas and illegal resource appropriation.
(With inputs from agencies.)
8.
31 Dalits from Ahmedabad, Kheda embrace Buddhism
They also took 22 pledges, which were taken by Dr Babasaheb Ambekdar in 1956 after shunning Hinduism and converting to Buddhism
GBA secretary Ramesh Banker told The Indian Express that the event was held in Ahmedabad’s Dholka town and 31 people embraced Buddhism while receiving Budhha Dhamma Deeksha from monk Pragna Ratna Thero. (Representational Image)Thirty one people belonging to Dalit community, from Ahmedabad and Kheda districts, embraced Buddhism, leaving Hinduism, during an event held in Ahmedabad district, on Sunday. The function was held under the aegis of Gujarat Buddhist Academy (GBA).
GBA secretary Ramesh Banker told The Indian Express that the event was held in Ahmedabad’s Dholka town and 31 people embraced Buddhism while receiving Budhha Dhamma Deeksha from monk Pragna Ratna Thero.
Banker said that for the event, the provisions of the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act were followed.
“After embracing Buddhism, the 31 people also took the 22 pledges which were taken by Dr Babasaheb Ambekdar in 1956 after shunning Hinduism and converting to Buddhism,” Banker said.
Ramesh Chavda (49) from Asal village of Viramgam tehsil of Ahmedabad, who converted to Buddhism along with his wife and two daughters, said, “I have embraced Buddhism because of inequality and untouchability in Hinduism.”
“I have read a lot about the discrimination towards Dalit community,” said Chavda, a textile worker.
Another participant, Ranjit Parmar (43), from Vauthha village of Ahmedabad embraced Buddhism along with his wife and a five-year-old son.
“No matter what people say about equality but they still take an objection when a Dalit person rides a horse in marriage or keeps a moustace,” said Parmar. “Buddhism is a religion of India and…does not have inequality or untouchability. And therefore, I have embraced Buddhism,” he added.
Meet Kshipra & Shiv Shankar: Dalit Researchers Who Won ₹127 Crore Compensation in India's First Intellectual Property Case Under Caste Atrocities Act
The couple successfully demonstrated that the loss of their intellectual property not only caused severe personal and financial hardships, including the loss of their jobs and livelihoods, but also disrupted their missionary project to revive the political school of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Nagpur- Imagine someone who has never studied law or stepped inside a courtroom, suddenly becoming a party in a case—representing themselves, arguing not just for personal justice but for a legal precedent. The battle becomes even more daunting when the opponent is not an individual but the entire machinery of the state, represented by senior legal minds.
"If you are a Dalit and education is the only asset you possess, and someone robs you of that possession—destroying your dreams and stripping away your right to equal opportunity—what do you do? You won't let it go, You fight. And that’s exactly what we did," say Dr. Kshipra Kamlesh Uke and Dr. Shiv Shankar Das.
The Dalit couple has made history by compelling the judiciary to recognize intellectual property as an asset, as valuable as any movable property, and therefore compensable under the law. They quoted ₹127,55,11,600/- as intrinsic value and Rs. 3,91,85,000/- as extrinsic/instrumental value for quantification of the loss of their intellectual property that not only led them to profound personal and economic hardships as they lost their livelihoods, but critically disrupted their missionary project.
On 10 November 2023, the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court ruled in their favor, ordering the Maharashtra government to compensate them for the damages they suffered.
On January 24, 2025, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Maharashtra government, effectively upholding the Bombay High Court’s landmark judgment.
This ruling establishes a significant precedent by recognizing intellectual property damage as compensable under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case was heard by a bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma.
The researchers ordeal began when, in collusion with corrupt police officials, their landlord orchestrated a raid on their home in Laxmi Nagar of Nagpur city, hardly half a kilometer away from Deekshabhoomi, on 8 September 2018, in their absence, leading to the theft of their most priceless possessions—huge research data stored in laptop and pendrives, 5000 survey samples, academic publications, and certificates—work that represented years of dedication and effort.
This incident took place in the constituency of CM Devendra Fadnavis, who was also serving as the Chief Minister at the time of the incident.
In a detailed conversation with The Mooknayak, Kshipra and Shiv Shankar opened up about their six-year-long ordeal, the societal pressure, systemic oppression, and the legal journey they undertook. They spoke about the immense cost they had to bear—primarily due to their caste identities—and how renting a house in a Brahmin-dominated locality led to hostility once their caste was revealed.
"In 2015, we rented a house near Deekshabhoomi. The building and neighborhood were dominated by Brahmins. We had nothing particular on our minds, and even the house owner, a 70-year-old gentleman, did not ask about our caste. What he looked for in a good tenant was education, a stable job, and food preferences. Shiv Shankar, who carries the surname 'Das,' was perhaps assumed to be a Brahmin when he mentioned that he was a pure vegetarian," Kshipra recalled.
She further shared, "The house owner was friendly—he frequently visited us, accepted our snacks and green tea, and even invited us to his granddaughter's naamkaran ceremony. This indicated a cordial relationship between our families. However, things changed when we started our sample collection work and became actively involved in political activism following Rohith Vemula's institutional murder. Our presence became an eyesore to many." Notably, Kshipra had also contested election in JNU students’ Union.
"Under the banner of Rohith Vemula Fights Back, we mobilized and led a powerful protest rally with 10,000 participants. On January 30, 2016, we marched to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, demanding justice with our main slogan—‘Ban RSS.’ This was the first time in history that such a march had taken place. Following the rally, some of our acquaintances warned us that we had caught their attention and were now on their radar," Kshipra said.
After seven to eight months of our stay, our house owner came to meet us and expressed his concerns, claiming that the Brahmin neighbors were uncomfortable with non-Brahmins living in the locality. Kshipra recalled, "The old man told us that he personally had no problem with us, but since the Brahmin neighbors were not comfortable, he was finding it difficult to handle them."
However, he did not directly ask us to vacate. But in January 2016, when it was time to renew the annual tenancy agreement and we requested him to do so, he told us that he was not in the mood to renew it. However, he allowed us to continue staying on the condition of a 10% rent hike, which we agreed to.
This arrangement continued until July 2016, when, unfortunately, he passed away. The ownership of the house was then inherited by his son, who lived and worked in Pune.
Das told The Mooknayak that the house owner's son visited them in October 2016 and suddenly asked them to vacate the house within a day. "We told him that we were not planning to stay indefinitely or take over the house, and we would definitely leave. But vacating within 24 hours was simply not possible," Kshipra, who was eight months pregnant with their daughter at the time, curtly replied. This led to an unpleasant ending to the conversation.
Following this, the house owner's son cut off all communication with them, but the couple continued living in the house, paying rent properly, and carrying on with their work.
In 2018, while they were in Delhi for research-related work, the house owner’s son started calling them continuously, pressuring them to meet. "We told him that we would meet him whenever we returned to Nagpur, and we kept our word. Once our tickets were confirmed, we informed him about our arrival in Nagpur on September 9, 2018, and he was well aware of it," Das said.
"When we returned home from New Delhi, we were shocked to find our locks broken and our belongings damaged and scattered across the building. In distress, we immediately called 100 and rushed to the Bajaj Nagar police station to file an FIR, but no officer was willing to register our complaint", he said. The police, however, refused to register their complaint, making them wait the entire day with their small child. "The officer on duty told us that since it was a Sunday, our complaint could not be registered," Kshipra recalled.
With nowhere else to go, the couple approached the Joint Commissioner of Police, who finally instructed the officers to take the case—though only under mild sections. "Meanwhile, we attempted to communicate with our landlord, but his unusual behavior and information from neighbors made it clear that he was involved in the crime. Realizing this, we decided to file an FIR against him."
State Protection for Guilty Officers: How Police Shielded Their Own in the Caste Atrocity Case
During the investigation, two more individuals who were the house owner's accomplices, were found to be involved, along with certain police personnel.
A few months later, after the couple provided evidence of caste-based atrocities, the were all booked and charge-sheeted under the stringent Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. However, the state shielded the police officers, and no case was registered against them.
"One of the police officers created a false document, which was a written letter on behalf of the house owner, claiming that his tenants had left the home six months ago and wanted to return the keys to him. However, since the house owner lived in Pune, he could not collect the keys. This letter was drafted by an officer and used as a ground for raiding the house, and a female constable confessed to this in her statement during the inquiry," Kshipra said.
Further investigations led to a significant discovery in January 2019, when the Crime Branch, Nagpur recovered some of the stolen property from the accused. This included 33 original academic certificates, passports, research survey forms, and other crucial documents, which were deposited at the local police station. Shockingly, some of these items later disappeared from police custody.
Before the charge sheet was filed in court, the police eliminated 11 out of 16 key pieces of evidence related to the crime from their own custody. A departmental inquiry in January 2019 found four policemen guilty of conspiring and illegally ransacking our house, yet they were neither booked nor charge-sheeted. Additionally, two Investigating Officers were found guilty of fabricating false evidence, and another police inspector was held responsible for tampering with and making evidence disappear from police custody.
So far, a total of seven policemen have been found guilty in multiple departmental inquiries. However, instead of facing prosecution, they continue to be protected by the state. " We have been demanding to take a criminal case against the errant policemen and punish them under the caste atrocity act but the department protected them. Just their increments were withheld after departmental inquiries. The authorities say since the cops have been punished once, we cannot punish them for the same cause twice. However, we are fighting the case and wont step back until they too are jailed".
"If you are a Dalit and education is the only asset you possess, and someone robs you of that possession—destroying your dreams and stripping away your right to equal opportunity—what do you do? You won't let it go, You fight.Dr. Kshipra Kamlesh Uke
Heavy Loss of Data: Hindering Professional and Financial Opportunities
The researchers lost their intellectual properties including research data containing 5000 samples related to their project on political awareness of Nagpur city youths, a laptop in which research data was processed, pen drives, hard disc in which the data was stored, and a research manuscript. The laptop also contained confidential data about prisoners for whose dignity and rights the NGO VARHAD at Amravati works where Kshipra and Shiv Shankar Das were associated as consultants.
The stolen data cost them heavily, rendering them unable to submit a presentation to three Union Ministers, including Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot for an ambitious ONGC CSR project. Simultaneously, VARHAD was unable to raise funds due to the theft of crucial data, crippling their ability to secure financial support for their work. Due to loss of official data they lost their jobs at VARHAD.
" In want of our academic documents, we could not apply for any new job or academic position like post-doctoral fellowship or teaching. The harm didn't just strip us of our livelihood but also deprived us of our fundamental right of equal opportunity to carry on our occupation of research and training in India, which we were engaged in through our not-for-profit company", they told The Mooknayak.
"It is not just about losing your degrees and certificates, it's losing your entire work. I can get duplicate copies of my marksheets and degrees, but what about the international conferences and seminars I attended? What about the original publications? When I apply for a job now, I won’t be allowed to appear before the selection panel because the staff would first verify my testimonials with the originals, and I would be presenting duplicates. The API (Academic Performance Indicator), which gauges the merit of a candidate, would show me as a new applicant, losing all my seniority. The loss is indescribable and unimaginable for anyone," Kshipra said.
Lack of Precedents and Provisions for Compensating Intellectual Property Loss under SC/ST Atrocities Act
In April 2022, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, a constitutional body specialized in protecting the rights of victims of caste atrocities, recommended that the district authorities inquire into the matter, including the loss of intellectual property, and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR). Further, the Commission issued multiple reminders to the state government, but the authorities never filed the ATR.
Hence, for the implementation of these recommendations, they had to approach the Bombay High Court. When asked why the couple, who belong to the social sciences stream and have no legal background, decided to fight their own case, Kshipra responded spontaneously: "Lack of study and trust in lawyers." Since the fight was against the state machinery, there were trust issues as lawyers could be compromised.
"It was the first case of its kind, with no precedents or provisions for compensating intellectual property loss under the SC/ST Atrocities Act. We spoke to many counsels, but we found that they lacked even a basic understanding of the Act and were unwilling to study. I was someone whose entire career and ambition were at stake due to the damage to our possessions. So, we took it upon ourselves to study rigorously. It took us years to research provisions, clauses, and case studies—ranging from 200 years ago to recent ones worldwide—related to intellectual property and atrocities. We framed our arguments and presented them ourselves before the judges, who patiently heard our pleadings," Kshipra said.
The couple shared that the presence of dozens of people from the opposing side, including officials from the social welfare department, collectorate, and police, made them nervous. "At one point, I lost all my confidence and thought, How are we going to win against this large army? But we had faith in our education—our knowledge—which helped us navigate this difficult legal journey. We were armed only with our detailed and thorough study, and we convinced the judges why our claim for compensation was reasonable and just."
Explaining the Loss and Justifying Compensation: The Legal Battle
Having no legal background or experience with court proceedings, the couple argued their case in person, which itself was a significant challenge. The nature of the crime was clear—since the state police were involved in the crime, the Government of Maharashtra could not escape acknowledging the loss of their intellectual property. However, the main hurdle they faced was the narrow interpretation of the Maharashtra Government, which argued that compensation for intellectual property loss did not qualify under the SC/ST (PoA) Act on two grounds:
The Act's Scope: The government claimed that the SC/ST (PoA) Act only protects or compensates physical property (such as houses or movable items) and excludes intangible assets like intellectual property or research data.
Incapability to Quantify Loss: The government argued that it was incapable of assessing or quantifying the intangible losses, making it difficult to determine the compensation.
To counter these arguments, the couple relied on legal provisions to convince the court. First, they cited Section 2(1)[f] of the SC/ST (PoA) Act, IPC 22 & 24, and Section 3 (26) & 3 (36) of the General Clauses Act, 1897, arguing that intellectual property is indeed a form of movable property under the PoA Act.
Next, the couple presented two methods to quantify the loss of their intellectual property and research data:
Extrinsic/Instrumental Value: Rs. 3,91,85,000/-
Intrinsic Value: Rs. 127,55,11,600/-
They successfully demonstrated that the loss of their intellectual property not only caused severe personal and financial hardships, including the loss of their jobs and livelihoods, but also disrupted their missionary project to revive the political school of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Through these compelling arguments, they justified their claim for compensation.
After all the hearings, the court reserved its judgment on July 5, 2023, and finally pronounced it on November 10, 2023, partially allowing the petition and instructing the state authorities to provide the researchers compensation for the loss of intellectual property under the provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. However, the Government of Maharashtra withheld compliance with the judgment and approached the Apex Court through a Special Leave Petition (SLP) to have the High Court judgment dismissed.
On January 24, 2025, a Supreme Court bench led by Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma heard the arguments of the Government of Maharashtra and passed a judicial order:
"We have heard learned counsel for the petitioner (Government of Maharashtra) at length. We do not find any merit in the Special Leave Petition. Hence, the SLP is dismissed."
Nagpur Collector's Failure to Comply with High Court Order: Contempt Petition on the Horizon
While the Maharashtra government filed the Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, the District Magistrate of Nagpur asked the researchers to appear for a physical hearing at his office on January 9, expressing a willingness to comply with the High Court order to compensate by January 16.
"However, we expressed our unwillingness to attend a physical hearing and requested a virtual one, which was granted only after we cited the relevant laws and regulations allowing virtual hearings as a substitute for physical presence. We held the online meeting as requested; however, the administration has failed to disburse the compensation and comply with the court's order. We intend to move a contempt petition against the administration for their failure to comply. Once we receive the compensation, I will be able to start afresh and take concrete steps to realize my mission of reviving Ambedkar's political school," Kshipra stated.
"Our legal battle of 6 long years that concluded in the Apex Court was due to our strong sense of dignity, consistency and confidence in the provisions of the constitution and definitely the teachings of our hero–Babasaheb Ambedkar," the couple concluded.
The Silent Suffering: Metta's Childhood Amidst Legal Struggles
While the researchers relentlessly pursued justice, one silent sufferer in the family was their 8-year-old daughter, Metta, who did not attend school for seven years. The constant threats to their lives, manipulations, and the overwhelming state machinery working against them took a toll on their entire family. "We realized our lives were no longer easy," they said. They withdrew from social gatherings, stopped visiting relatives, and only had brief, impersonal phone conversations with friends. There were no birthday parties, weddings, or functions.
This isolation affected Metta profoundly. She became an introvert, with no friends, and her only companions were her parents, who took on the responsibility of teaching her at home. After moving to a undisclosed location last year, Metta was finally able to attend school and, for the first time, began to make friends.
VCK MP D Ravikumar seeks martyr honour for 12 Dalits
He then requested the CM that 12 Dalits killed in Villupuram in 1978 in a clash be declared social justice martyrs.
Krithika Srinivasan
VILLUPURAM: Villupuram MP and general secretary of VCK D Ravikumar on Tuesday demanded Chief Minister MK Stalin to recognise as martyrs the 12 members of Scheduled Caste, who were hawkers and labourers, and who died in a caste violence in Villupuram in 1978.
Ravikumar thanked Stalin for the memorial for A Govindaswamy and the memorial hall for 21 men belonging to Vanniyar caste who died in protest for reservation for MBCs, announcement of 10 new projects worth `410 crore, including the long-standing demand of the farmers of Villupuram district -the Nandan Canal Project.
He then requested the CM that 12 Dalits killed in Villupuram in 1978 in a clash be declared social justice martyrs.
Speaking to TNIE, he said, “Dalit people and movements are not against the memorial for 21 martyrs of the Vanniyar reservation protest. At the same time, we are also expecting the government to recognise Dalits who died in the 1978 violence to claim the authentic participation of members of the Scheduled Caste in the history of this land. Moreover, the Dalits who survived the incident are still unable to own any business in the market area in Villupuram.”
Courtesy : TNIE
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