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2mo ago

Karnataka to Table Rohith Vemula Bill Despite BJP Allegations of Reverse Discrimination

Honoring Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, the legislation criminalizes caste bias in universities with prison terms and fines.

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Overview

  • The Karnataka Rohith Vemula (Prevention of Exclusion or Injustice)(Right to Education and Dignity) Bill, 2025 is scheduled for the upcoming Monsoon Session to address caste-based exclusion in higher education institutions.
  • The draft classifies caste discrimination as a non-bailable, cognizable offence carrying one to three years in prison, fines from ₹10,000 to ₹1 lakh and empowers courts to award up to ₹1 lakh in victim compensation.
  • The Bill extends to all public, private and deemed universities in Karnataka and memorializes the Dalit scholar whose 2016 suicide spotlighted systemic bias.
  • Expelled BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal condemned the proposal as draconian reverse discrimination and accused the government of fostering state-sponsored apartheid in a July 17 letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
  • Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao issued a ₹25 lakh defamation notice to Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka over allegations tied to Vemula’s death that Telangana Police dismissed.