THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — The head of Kerala University’s Sanskrit Department has been booked by police. She faces allegations of making casteist remarks against a research scholar. Sreekaryam Police registered a case against Dr. C.N. Vijayakumari on Sunday.
Dr. Vijayakumari holds dual roles at the university. She serves as the Head of the Sanskrit Department. She is also the Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the Kariavattom campus.
The legal action stems from a complaint. Vipin Vijayan, a research scholar within the Sanskrit department, filed this complaint. Vijayan, a Vanchiyoor native, alleges a pattern of caste discrimination. He also reports experiencing power abuse during his academic pursuit.
Complaint Details and Timeline
The First Information Report (FIR) was registered late Saturday night. It outlines the specific incident. Dr. Vijayakumari allegedly refused to sign Vijayan’s thesis document.
This refusal occurred after Vijayan’s open defence. The defence took place on October 15 . Subsequently, Vijayan approached Dr. Vijayakumari again. He sought her signature to complete his PhD process.
During this second encounter, Dr. Vijayakumari allegedly made casteist remarks. These statements were reportedly made publicly. Other teachers and students were present at the time, according to the FIR.
The complaint extends beyond this single incident. It alleges Dr. Vijayakumari has made similar caste-based remarks since 2015 . Vijayan began his M.Phil. studies at the Kariavattom campus in 2015 . He was under Dr. Vijayakumari’s supervision for his M.Phil. program as well.
Specific Allegations and Legal Ramifications
The FIR details the specific nature of the alleged casteist comments. Dr. Vijayakumari reportedly told Vijayan that “people from lower castes could not learn Sanskrit.” She further allegedly stated she would “clean her room with water after they entered.” These remarks highlight the severity of the alleged discrimination.
Police have filed the case under stringent provisions. Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act are applicable. These sections specifically address crimes of intentional insult and public abuse. They target members of the SC/ST community based on their caste name or identity.
Authorities emphasize the gravity of the charges. The offenses registered are non-bailable. This means bail cannot be granted as a matter of right. A detailed police investigation will now commence. The decision regarding Dr. Vijayakumari’s arrest will be made only after this comprehensive probe concludes.
Dean’s Counter-Claim
Dr. Vijayakumari has publicly refuted the allegations. Her denial was issued earlier when the controversy first gained public attention. She firmly denied making any casteist remarks against the scholar.
Instead, Dr. Vijayakumari provided an alternative reason for her actions. She claimed she refused to sign the thesis due to academic deficiencies. She stated the researcher lacked sufficient knowledge of Sanskrit. Furthermore, she asserted that Vijayan’s research work contained multiple significant issues, making it unsuitable for approval.