A Dalit assistant professor at Panjab University, Harpreet Singh, has publicly accused the university of caste-based discrimination, alleging that his promotion has been deliberately delayed due to his caste. In a video statement released on February 14, Singh said that he has faced two years of systematic casteist behavior and that a colleague, Dr Smriti Sharma, repeatedly made casteist remarks against him and other Scheduled Caste faculty members during meetings.
Singh claimed that the university authorities informed him that Dr. Sharma had filed a complaint against his promotion, which he described as part of a larger pattern of “institutional casteism.” He stated that the hostile environment created by such discrimination affects both students and faculty from marginalized communities.
As part of his protest, Singh has submitted a memorandum to university authorities demanding immediate action to stop caste-based discrimination and ensure that his promotion is processed without further delay. He warned that if the administration fails to act, he would begin an indefinite dharna outside the Vice Chancellor’s office.
Student organizations have also expressed solidarity. The Ambedkar Students Forum (ASF) has called on the university administration to intervene and deliver justice to Singh, warning that they will join the protest if the university does not respond.
Singh stated, “It is obvious that any chairperson cannot carry out systematic caste discrimination without support from the department’s faculty and university authorities. The institutional casteism at Punjab University is creating a hostile and intimidating environment for faculty and students from marginalized communities.”
