SC notice to Centre on plea of mothers of Rohith Vemula, Payal Tadvi

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to respond within four weeks to a petition filed by the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, who committed suicide because of alleged caste discrimination, PTI reported. They had moved court last month, seeking to end caste discrimination in universities and other higher education institutions.

Vemula, a PhD scholar at Hyderabad Central University, committed suicide on January 17, 2016, while Tadvi, an Adivasi student at TN Topiwala National Medical College in Mumbai, killed herself on May 22. Three doctors accused of harassing Tadvi are out on bail at present.

Radhika Vemula and Abeda Salim Tadvi have urged the top court to issue guidelines to the higher education institutions on the matter, and pointed out the inadequacy of existing “equity regulations” that the University Grants Commission notified in 2012 to address complaints of caste discrimination on campuses.