Listen to me, or else

The Second National Commission for Scheduled Castes was set up in May 2007 with Buta Singh as chairperson, Narendra M Kamble as vice-chairperson and Satya Bahin, Murtyunjay Nayak and Mahendra Boddh as members. Buta Singh has since been expelled from the Congress for contesting the general elections without the party’s permission. However, he continues to be the chairman of the commission. One of the most powerful office-bearers of the commission has been calling up vice-chancellors of various universities, including central ones, and threatening them with dire consequences if they do not act as the commission asks them to. The “orders” relate to admission of various people, promotion of students from scheduled castes and appointments. What the threats have in common is the sign-off line: “Do you know I can send you to jail if you don’t do what I tell you to?” So far, none of the vice chancellors have complied. But if they are sent to jail, you’ll know why.