AATSU complains against ASU for violation of reservation norms, demands high-level probe

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KOKRAJHAR: All-Assam Tribal Students Union (AATSU) on Thursday came down heavily against the discriminatory hiring practices and violation of reservation norms at Assam Skill University (ASU), Mangaldai, in Darrang district of Assam and submitted a memorandum to the National Commission for ST (Regional Office) through the Kokrajhar DC, demanding urgent intervention and institution of a high-level inquiry over the violation of rightful share of employment. The copy of the memorandum was also sent to the President of India, Assam Governor, and Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, as well as to the Chief Minister of Assam.

The President of the AATSU, Hareswar Brahma, said that the Assam Skill University Act, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), had a mandate of equity and inclusion and was envisioned to provide inclusive, equitable, and quality skill-based higher education and create employment opportunities for all, districts, particularly for youths from Scheduled Tribes (ST), women, and other underprivileged sections of society. He said that in its official project documentation to ADB, including the Social Monitoring Reports (SMRs) and the Indigenous People’s Plan (PP), the university explicitly identified the ST community as a primary stakeholder, highlighting their socio-economic vulnerability and the need for affirmative action to justify international funding and contributing towards inclusive education. He also said that with the contradiction between commitment and practice despite these stated goals, ASU’s actual recruitment process had blatantly neglected its commitment to equity. He further said that no post-based reservations had been implemented in the permanent teaching and non-teaching recruitment process and roster systems have not been followed, while category-wise distribution of posts based on reservation was also absent from official notifications particularly with respect to advertisement of permanent teaching (Advt. Ref.: ASDM/ASUP/122/2023) and non-teaching positions.

The memorandum said that an appeal was already made through the All-Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) by submitting a memorandum to the Chief Minister for re-advertisement of posts following post-based reservation but no action was taken. It is noteworthy that post-based reservation was observed later only in contractual positions, undermining systematic and constitutional mandates and guidelines. It was also found that most recruited candidates against Advertisement Ref. ASDM/ASUP/122/2023 were either linked with external experts, selection committees, professors already working at Assam Skill University, and executive council which raise eyebrows in terms of conflict of interest, already mentioned in the earlier memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, by the AATS led by Aditya Khaklari.

The AATSU said that it seemed to appear that to cover up the demand of post-based reservation, a non-PhD candidate was hired from the unreserved post, where good number of candidates with PhD and Postdoctoral members were competing, which again reflected the dictatorial and biased recruitment which was not only a clear example of breaching constitutional obligations but also a contradiction to ADB’s social safeguard requirements, which stressed inclusive development and benefit-sharing with indigenous and vulnerable communitics.

The AATSU said that with the violation of the Constitutional and Legal Provisions, the university’s actions are in violation of Article 15(4) and Article 16(4) of the Indian Constitution (Special provisions for SC/ST in public employment). It said that the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, particularly Section 3(1) (v), was denial of rightful share in employment, Section 3(1) (x) was public humiliation and exclusion of SC/ST individuals which also amounts the ADB’s responsibility as a funding agency. It also said that the ADB’s funding was sanctioned on the basis of inclusive development, community participation, and the upliftment of marginalized communities, but the actual ground implementation at ASU defied those very principles, thereby violating ADB’s social safeguard policies and weakening public trust in international development aid.

The AATSU demanded that there should be immediate investigation through an independent inquiry into all recruitments carried out so far, including transparency on reservation adherence. Implementation of Constitutional reservation with mandatory application of post-based reservation for SC, ST, and OBC candidates as per the 100-point roster, termination of irregular hiring practices, termination of all candidates found unethically recruited against advertisement ref. ASDM/ASUP/122/2023 and conduct of fresh recruitment in compliance with all applicable rules, ensuring transparency and equal accountability and redressal. The Working President of the Bodoland Janajati Suraksha Mancha (BJSM) Daorao Dekhreb Narzary was also present during the submission of memorandum.

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