Bombay HC Orders Directorate Of Higher Education To Look Into Allegations Of 'Institutional Casteism, Sexual Harassment' Within ILS Law College

The Bombay High Court on its administrative side has asked the Directorate of Higher Education, Pune to look into the allegations of 'institutional casteism, ragging, sexual harassment, hooliganism, favouritism and ill-treatment of minority students' levelled by over 118 students and alumni of the ILS Law College, Pune.

In a letter addressed to the Directorate of the Higher Education on July 4, the Registrar Judicial of the Bombay High Court has requested the authority to “look into the grievances voiced by the students in their May 21 letter to the Chief Justice of the High Court, and act in accordance with law.”

The Registrar has further asked the authority to communicate the action it proposes to take, to the complainant students, at the earliest.

Over 118 students and alumni of the ILS Law College had written a letter to Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay of Bombay High Court on May 21, alleging that students belonging to the Marathi Brahmin community are getting 'preferential treatment' as they are being appointed to various bodies of the college. The letter also alleged that the college has been continuously disallowing students to organise a 'Phule-Ambedkar Memorial Lecture', from the last three years.

“We are troubled by instances of favouritism among certain faculty members, where Brahmin students appear to receive preferential treatment. Non-Brahmin students, despite their merit, often encounter indifference and even hostility for trivial reasons, while Brahmin students seem to be favoured for appointments to various college bodies,” the letter reads.

The 7-page letter alleged that the ILS Law College has a history of inaction over sexual harassment cases within the college premises.

"The culture of misogyny also extends to the bodies of students where multiple women, queer and transgender students across alumni batches have been body-shamed and cloth shamed by Professors, in front of classrooms, other staff members, and the public at large within the institution. The blatant sexism of Professors inside classrooms where explicit differential treatment is practiced against vocal female students is rampant and is alarming since female Professors are also an equal party to this discrimination," the letter claimed.

The ILS Law College, the students alleged, faces a significant challenge in addressing issues affecting minority students.

"Instances such as a professor's inappropriate reference to a Muslim student fasting during Ramadan, and subsequent threats of legal action against complaining students, highlight a lack of effective mechanism to address faculty misconduct. Additionally, incidents of anti-Muslim remarks written outside a student's room underscore a failure to address discrimination within the campus community," the letter states.

Citing various instances of hooliganism and ragging within the campus to the extent of one of the boys' hostel rooms allegedly being set on fire, the letter highlights the inaction of the college authorities in addressing the issue.

The conduct of the college authorities, particularly the law professors, the students claim is alarming and falls short of basic ethical standards. They added that they are now speaking out despite the fear of selective arbitrary actions regarding attendance, internal marks and the looming threat of selective prosecution.

“Previously, professors have resorted to unethical tactics to stifle student voices, including intimidation with potential criminal cases that could adversely affect their future careers. All of this creates a very degrading and dehumanizing environment which has been severely affecting the mental health of the students,” the letter added.