30.01.2025..Untouchablity News.....अछूत समाचार.தீண்டாமை செய்திகள்.by Team சிவாஜி. शिवाजी .Shivaji.asivaji1962@gmail.com.9444917060.asivaji1961@gmail.com.facebook.sivajiyogatiruvannamalai.X.ShivajiA479023.
SPECIAL NEWS OF CONGRESS.
Without naming Narasimha Rao, Rahul Gandhi says Congress of 90s ignored Dalits, OBCs
NEW DELHI: Admitting that Congress did not protect the interests of Dalits and the backwards the way it should have after the 1990s, Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said if the party had retained the the confidence of the marginalised communities, RSS would have never been able to “come to power”.
“I have to say in past 10-15 years what Congress should have done it did not do. If Congress maintained confidence of Dalits, backward classes and most backward, RSS would have never been able to come to power,” Rahul said, while addressing a meet of Dalit influencers under the banner of the ‘Vanchit Samaj: Dasha aur Disha’ programme in poll-bound Delhi.
Rahul slammed AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and PM Narendra Modi by calling them “anti- reservation and anti-Dalit”. Kejriwal is a sophisticated version of Modi, he said while he likened Modi with late Cuban leader Fidel Castro who ruled with an iron fist.
Importantly, the period when, according to Rahul, OBCs and Dalits started drifting away from Congress, coincides with the decade-long spell when the Gandhis were not at the helm of the party – a fact that someone in the audience focused on by shouting “Narasimha Rao. Rao was the PM during 1991-1996”.
“During PM Indira Gandhi’s time full confidence was maintained – Dalits, tribals, minorities and most backwards knew that she will be go all out to fight for them. But after the 1990s there were shortcomings and it is a reality that Congress will have to accept,” he said and asserted his party is “truly interested in forming a bond” with them.
While Congress’s loss of appeal among OBCs and Dalits, especially in the north of India, is a fact, political analysts may differ with Rahul as to when they got alienated from Congress. Many hold that erosion of support among the numerically preponderant constituencies started much earlier and can definitely be traced to the 60s when dominant OBCs left Congress because they found it to be dominated by upper castes. They moved towards parties where they were represented in leadership positions and which had affinity with their demands for quotas. Indira Gandhi’s traumatic assassination masked and retarded the process but may not have stanched it.
It renewed and gathered steam in the 90s, with Rajiv Gandhi’s aggressive opposition to caste quotas in the wake of the implementation of the Mandal Commission report proving to be a new propellant. What started with OBCs also soon became the trend with Dalits; with BSP under Kanshi Ram and Mayawati taking away a huge part of Congress’s support among Dalits.
Calling for an “internal revolution” within Congress by making more room for Dalits and the backwards, he said once the “original base of Congress is back, BJP and RSS would have to run away”. “Problem is that there is no unity among us. We have to work on unity and take everyone along…it will take a few years…,” Rahul said.
Courtesy : TOI.
Ending Modern-Day Untouchability
Need Of Addressing Employer Bias Against Non-NLU Students
India’s legal education landscape has transformed substantially over the past few decades, primarily with the establishment of National Law Universities (NLUs). Regarded as the gold standard, NLUs are elite institutions that admit students based on the highly competitive Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). Only a fraction of applicants secure admission, creating an aura of exclusivity around NLU graduates. Yet, this perception often leads to biases against students from other law schools, categorizing them as less competent despite their potential. The reality is far more complex, as many talented students outside of NLUs face socio-economic barriers or narrowly miss the CLAT cut-off, while still possessing the skills to excel in the legal profession.
In February 2023, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud addressed the convocation at NALSAR University, urging NLU students to respect their peers from other law schools. He emphasized the need for humility, cautioning against a sense of superiority based solely on institutional affiliation. Justice Chandrachud also acknowledged the challenges NLUs face in making legal education accessible to diverse socio-economic backgrounds, a gap that reinforces inequity in the legal field.
In July 2024, the Supreme Court again highlighted these challenges in Gaurav Kumar v. Union of India, where CJI Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala acknowledged the barriers non-NLU graduates face. The judgment underscored that students from marginalized communities or those lacking an NLU degree often encounter discrimination in elite law firms, senior lawyer chambers, and other prestigious roles, all of which are critical for establishing a career in law. The judgment reaffirmed the need to dismantle institutional biases and called for a more inclusive approach to legal hiring.
The “Modern-Day Untouchability” in Law
In India’s legal job market, non-NLU students are often sidelined, treated almost as “untouchables” by many recruiters who gravitate towards the NLU brand. Despite having comparable skills, determination, and legal acumen, these students find doors closed to prestigious law firms, judicial clerkships, and corporate roles simply because they don’t hold an NLU tag. This bias, deeply rooted in institutional elitism, overlooks individual talent and reinforces an unfair hierarchy
NLUs account for approximately 3,000 seats annually across India, while the country’s broader network of law schools produces over 80,000 graduates each year, with non-NLU students making up the overwhelming majority. Yet, the “NLU-only” mindset fosters an elitism that permeates legal hiring, often translating into biased recruitment practices favoring pedigree over talent. For example, In 2014 graduates from a single National Law School held 26% of partnership positions in India’s top six corporate law firms, despite abundant talent from other law schools.
Non-NLU students often face institutional discrimination, facing rejection from top firms and judges’ chambers solely due to their alma mater. This pervasive “brand bias” not only reduces diversity within the profession but also limits the range of perspectives that can enrich legal practice.
Access to NLUs is heavily reliant on the CLAT, an entrance examination that has been criticized for creating structural barriers. In 2024, around 60295 students competed for just 3,243 seats, giving NLUs an acceptance rate around 5%. Students from economically marginalized backgrounds are disproportionately disadvantaged, as they often lack the resources to access specialized coaching that many affluent students rely on to prepare for CLAT. Consequently, highly capable students are sidelined—not due to a lack of ability, but due to systemic inequities that hinder access.
The average NLU tuition fee exceeds ₹10-15 lakh for a five-year program, a staggering amount for most Indian families, especially when considering that the annual per capita income in India is around ₹1.5 lakh. In comparison, non-NLU institutions offer significantly lower fees, allowing students from diverse financial backgrounds to pursue a legal education. However, many employers equate higher fees and exclusivity with competence, an assumption that overlooks the immense talent in non-NLU schools.
The Disparity in Employment Opportunities
In the competitive field of law, where networks and mentorship play crucial roles, NLU graduates often have an advantage, enjoying campus recruitment from prestigious firms and clerking opportunities that set them up for successful careers.
In 2024, a social media post ignited with discussions after KIA India, a major motor vehicle manufacturer, posted a job opening for a Legal Specialist, initially specifying a preference for applicants from National Law Universities (NLUs) only. The announcement sparked criticism online, with commenters expressing disappointment over the bias against candidates from non-NLUs and the broader preference many employers show for law graduates with an NLU background.
A few years ago, a Delhi University graduate filed a petition in the Patna High Court challenging a recruitment post by Bihar Mining Corporation Limited, which restricted eligibility for law officer positions to graduates from Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna. In response, the court issued a notice to the State in March 2022.
Similarly, in June 2022, the Kerala High Court invalidated a notification by the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) that limited applications for an Assistant Law Officer role to candidates who had passed the CLAT 2021 postgraduate exam. Declaring the restriction discriminatory, Justice VG Arun remarked, “There is no logical basis for the assumption that professionalism and competence is the fiefdom of only those passing from elite institutions.”
These are not the only case where the preference in job applicants was given to students from National Law Universities. This has become a routine in Indian job market. This disparity is largely due to the longstanding bias in the legal community that considers NLU graduates inherently superior, while overlooking the competence, dedication, and unique insights of non-NLU graduates.
This bias extends beyond recruitment, affecting career growth, salary potential, and professional respect. Many law firms and corporate legal departments often reserve entry-level positions and internships for NLU graduates, creating a cycle where non-NLU students face fewer opportunities, which impacts their professional trajectories. Moreover, top-tier firms rarely visit non-NLU campuses for recruitment, further restricting access for those graduates. Such discrimination perpetuates an elitist view that limits the potential for innovation and diversity within India’s legal profession.
Breaking the Stereotype
In India, non-NLU students have repeatedly demonstrated that talent, dedication, and success in the legal profession are not exclusive to NLU graduates. Though NLUs often carry a prestigious reputation, many students from non-NLUs have excelled and sometimes even surpassed their NLU counterparts across various legal fields, proving that skill and commitment are not restricted by institutional tags.
Numerous non-NLU graduates have topped the Judicial Services Examinations in multiple states, securing distinguished roles in the judiciary. In states like J&K, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, a significant portion of high-ranking judicial officers are non-NLU alumni. These graduates have shown outstanding dedication to the legal field and earned positions of influence in the judiciary, dispelling the myth that only NLU graduates can reach the top. Their success highlights that high achievement in competitive exams and subsequent legal careers depends on individual hard work and capability, not just the institutional name on a degree.
Non-NLU students have often excelled in moot court competitions on both national and international stages. For example, teams from institutions like Symbiosis Law School, Pune, and ILS Law College, Pune, have advanced to final rounds in renowned competitions like the Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition. This prestigious event draws participants from the world’s top law schools, and these successes reflect that legal acumen, critical thinking, and research skills can be nurtured in diverse academic environments.
In addition to excelling in moots, many non-NLU graduates have secured prestigious scholarships and fellowships for advanced legal studies abroad, including the Rhodes Chevening and Fulbright scholarships. These accolades are globally recognized, awarded based on merit and leadership potential, and show that non-NLU students have a place in international legal academia and beyond. This demonstrates that non-NLU students can match their NLU counterparts in scholarly achievements and intellectual pursuits, reinforcing their value on a global stage.
Non-NLU graduates are also making significant strides in top law firms and corporate legal roles. Some of the top-performing associates and partners in Indian law firms come from non-NLU backgrounds, breaking the stereotype that corporate legal success is reserved for NLU graduates. Law firms are beginning to recognize the unique qualities that non-NLU graduates bring to their roles, including resilience, diverse perspectives, and adaptability honed through rigorous and often challenging paths to success.
The notion that NLUs represent the only “elite” legal minds in India is outdated and does a disservice to the legal profession by excluding highly capable individuals from diverse institutions. Recognizing and respecting the accomplishments of non-NLU graduates is essential to building a more inclusive and competitive legal landscape in India.
Addressing Financial Inequities
The exorbitant fees at NLUs exclude economically disadvantaged students, creating an elitist system that fails to reflect India’s socio-economic diversity. In response, both government and private entities need to increase the availability of scholarships and fee waivers specifically for economically marginalized students. Presently, while NLUs offer some scholarships, they are often insufficient to meet the high demand. The government can also intervene by increasing funding to NLUs, allowing these institutions to lower fees without compromising quality, thereby opening doors to talented students from diverse backgrounds.
Data from the National Law Universities Consortium (NLUC), which includes 22 NLUs across India, reveals that in 2020, only 14% of admitted students came from Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Many students don’t attend NLUs not because they’re incompetent but because they can’t afford the exorbitant costs of education. The high fees, often reaching several lakhs, make it impossible for talented students from less privileged backgrounds to access these institutions. Its economic barriers, not a lack of ability, that hold them back, leaving many bright minds out of the NLU system simply due to financial constraints.
The Role of Employers: Embracing Diversity in Legal Hiring
The responsibility to dismantle these biases also lies with employers, who must make hiring practices more inclusive. Rather than focusing solely on institutional affiliation, employers should prioritize competency, critical thinking, and real-world skills. Research supports that diversity in educational backgrounds brings fresh perspectives to law firms, enabling them to better address complex legal issues and represent varied client interests effectively.
Law firms and legal departments can further contribute to an inclusive hiring process by participating in recruitment drives at non-NLU campuses. Offering internship programs specifically for non-NLU students can provide them with essential training and networking opportunities. Such initiatives can help level the playing field and ensure that the legal profession does not miss out on exceptional talent.
Achieving equality in legal education and employment requires structural changes. Collaborative programs between NLUs and non-NLUs, including shared courses, faculty exchanges, and academic partnerships, can help standardize legal education across institutions. Such collaborations would raise the overall quality of legal training, benefiting the profession at large and reducing institutional bias.
Furthermore, standardized accreditation measures can help bridge the perceived gap in quality between NLUs and non-NLUs. By setting clear standards for legal education across all law schools, students from different institutions can receive comparable training, ensuring that the quality of graduates is uniformly high, regardless of the institution.
Tailpiece
The deep-rooted bias against non-NLU graduates has far-reaching implications, not only limiting individual career prospects but also hindering the growth of India’s legal profession. By excluding talented individuals based on institutional pedigree, the legal sector risks becoming insular and homogenous, missing out on diverse perspectives that are essential for a dynamic profession.
A more equitable legal landscape requires collective action from students, educational institutions, employers, and the government. Breaking free from the “modern-day untouchability” of institutional elitism means moving toward a future where all law students, regardless of their alma mater, have equal opportunities to contribute meaningfully to India’s legal ecosystem. The legal profession, founded on principles of justice and fairness, must rise to the occasion by dismantling institutional biases, embracing diversity, and championing inclusivity.
Mettupalayam caste killing: Man gets death penalty for killing brother, minor SC girl
Published - January 29, 2025 10:42 pm IST - COIMBATORE
K. Vinothkumar, who was awarded the death penalty by the Special Court for SC/ST Act cases in Coimbatore on Wednesday.
Describing the murder of a 22-year-old man and his 16-year-old girlfriend belonging to a Scheduled Caste community near Mettupalayam in 2019 as a “rarest of rare” case, a Special Court in Coimbatore on Wednesday awarded a death sentence to the man’s elder brother for the caste killing.
Judge K. Vivekananthan of the Special Court for the trial of cases registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act awarded the punishment to K. Vinothkumar, 30, of Mettupalayam. The case relates to the murder of K. Kanagaraj and his minor girlfriend, also from Mettupalayam, in June .
Reservation in PG medical courses unconstitutional: SC
The verdict highlighted that the PG medical admissions under state quotas must solely be on a merit basis in the NEET exam.
"Residence-based reservation in Post Graduate (PG) medical courses is clearly violative of Article 14 of the Constitution," said, a three-judge bench of the apex court, led by Justice Hrishikesh Roy, and Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and SVN Bhatti.
The top court pronounced the judgment after hearing the case filed in 2019 involving Tanvi Behl and Shrey Goel.
While citing the law laid down in the previous judgments in Pradeep Jain, and Saurabh Chandra cases, the apex court said, "We are all domiciles in the territory of India. There is nothing like a provincial or state domicile. There is only one domicile. We are all residents of India."
The top court in its verdict also clarfied that its judgement will not affect the domicile reservation granted already.
"Students who are undergoing PG courses and those who have already passed out from such residence category would not be affected by the verdict," the apex court said.
It also stressed the right to choose residence anywhere in India and to carry out trade and profession anywhere in the country.
"Constitution gives us the right to choose admission in educational institutions across India," the apex court said.
Domicile-based reservation in PG medical courses unconstitutional: SC
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that domicile-based reservations in PG Medical seats is impermissible as it is unconstitutional for being violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.
The verdict highlighted that the PG medical admissions under state quotas must solely be on a merit basis in the NEET exam.
"Residence-based reservation in Post Graduate (PG) medical courses is clearly violative of Article 14 of the Constitution," said, a three-judge bench of the apex court, led by Justice Hrishikesh Roy, and Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and SVN Bhatti.
The top court pronounced the judgment after hearing the case filed in 2019 involving Tanvi Behl and Shrey Goel.
While citing the law laid down in the previous judgments in Pradeep Jain, and Saurabh Chandra cases, the apex court said, "We are all domiciles in the territory of India. There is nothing like a provincial or state domicile. There is only one domicile. We are all residents of India."
The top court in its verdict also clarfied that its judgement will not affect the domicile reservation granted already.
"Students who are undergoing PG courses and those who have already passed out from such residence category would not be affected by the verdict," the apex court said.
It also stressed the right to choose residence anywhere in India and to carry out trade and profession anywhere in the country.
"Constitution gives us the right to choose admission in educational institutions across India," the apex court said.
Login HOME NEWS INDIA CPM News Deblina Hembram makes histrory; becomes CPM’s first woman district secretary in Bengal News Desk 29 January 2025, 04:...
Read more at: https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/cpm-first-female-district-secretary-1.10294775
{Ambedkar statue vandalism} Athawale: Slap sedition charges against accused
Addressing a press conference, the minister said, “I demand exemplary punishment for the accused. A thorough investigation must be conducted to unearth the whole plot behind this henious act. I will also talk to chief minister Bhagwant Mann in this regard.”
Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale demanded slapping of sedition charges against accused who vandalised the statue of BR Ambedkar in Amritsar on Republic Day.
Athawale, who reached Amritsar on Wednesday, paid floral tribute at Ambedkar’s statue and condemned the vandalism. Accompanied by representatives of local Dalit organisations, Athawale took stock of the situation at a meeting with senior officers, including Amritsar deputy commissioner Sakshi Sawhney, municipal corporation commissioner Gurpreet Singh Aulakh and commissioner of police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar.
Addressing a press conference, the minister said, “I demand exemplary punishment for the accused. A thorough investigation must be conducted to unearth the whole plot behind this henious act. I will also talk to chief minister Bhagwant Mann in this regard.”
“To prevent any such vandalism, all statues should be protected by the administration and police. Except the mayor, nobody should be allowed to approach the statue for paying tributes. No ladder should be used to pay tribute to the statue to prevent any such incident,” the minister added.
BJP seeks probe by
independent agency
Demanding investigation by an independent agency into the vandalism of Ambedkar’s statue, a delegation of senior leaders of the Punjab unit of the BJP on Wednesday met governor Gulab Chand Kataria and said the incident was a part of a larger conspiracy to incite unrest and deepen communal divides in Punjab.
The delegation comprised senior leaders, including Manoranjan Kalia, Som Prakash, Sushil Rinku, Kewal Dhillon, Anil Sarin and Fateh Jang Bajwa.
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