The Legal Rights Protection Forum has filed a formal complaint with the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, alleging that Dr. Ch. Chengaiah, a professor at Sri Venkateswara University (SVU), Tirupati, misused a Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate. The complaint demands Dr. Chengaiah’s immediate termination from university services, citing constitutional violations and misuse of his position.
We filed a complaint with the Honourable Governor of Andhra Pradesh requesting the termination of Dr. Ch. Chengiah, Professor at Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, for misusing SC certificate to secure a government job, despite being a Christian. https://t.co/6OC6nxKGOV
— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) December 16, 2024
The complaint outlines that Dr Chengaiah, previously Head of the Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering (EEE) and Dean (SCDC) at SVU, was removed from his administrative role following an investigation by a High-Power Committee. The committee, chaired by the university’s Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, found him guilty of misconduct, including harassment of women and alleged promotion of Christianity among students. These findings were based on a Fact-Finding Committee report submitted to the university.
SV University HOD Chengayya is a 🍚 💼 convert. He is fooling everyone without changing his name. He is caught spreading “Bible versus” to students encouraging them to convert. Our Hindu organisations questioned him, and he tried to say they are “moral lessons”. But he is caught… pic.twitter.com/XxOaOZEFOl
— Tathvam-asi (@ssaratht) December 3, 2024
During the inquiry, Dr Chengaiah reportedly admitted to being a Christian and acknowledged encouraging Christian teaching in the classroom. The complaint highlights that according to Paragraph 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, individuals practicing religions other than Hinduism are not eligible for Scheduled Caste status.
The Supreme Court of India recently reinforced this principle in its judgment in the C. Selvarani vs. The Special Secretary-cum-District Collector & Others (SLP No. 6728 of 2023) case, ruling that individuals converting to other religions cannot claim SC status for reservations.
The Legal Rights Protection Forum has alleged that Dr Chengaiah unlawfully obtained an SC certificate to secure a government position at Sri Venkateswara University under the SC quota, describing this as fraudulent and detrimental to the rights of genuine SC community members.
The complaint urges the Governor to intervene and take immediate action, including dismissing the professor from the university.
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