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Rohith Vemula suicide probe report spares Hyderabad University, Smriti Irani

No one responsible, no action to be taken against anyone, says committee

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Hyderabad University scholar Rohith Vemula who committed suicide last year took the extreme step due to personal reasons and not because of the university expelling him, Justice Roopanwal Committee has observed in its report.

The report, which gives a clean chit to then HRD minister Smriti Irani and BJP leader Bandaru Dattareya — by not holding anybody responsible for the act, also states that Vemula was not a Dalit by caste.

The one-man judicial committee report, made public on HRD Ministry's official website on Tuesday, recommends no action on the basis of its findings as "no one is responsible for his (Vemula's) death".

Vemula and four of his Dalit friends were suspended by the university and expelled from the hostel following a clash with an ABVP leader. Protesters alleged that the action was taken at the behest of BJP leaders and Union ministers.

The HRD ministry had formed a committee to look into the matter headed by former Allahabad High Court judge Justice AK Roopanwal.

"Finding of the commission has observed that the punishment could not be the reason for suicide of Vemula when the same was challenged before the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and pending on the date of suicide. Further, the suicide did not relate to any activities of the university including Vice-Chancellor Prof. Appa Rao Podile or the political leaders. It was wholly a decision of his own," read the report.

The report further adds that Vemula was unhappy due to reasons best known to him, and also mentions that Rohith had not mentioned anything related to the college action in his suicide note.

"In his letter written before suicide he did not name anybody, but even then the friends of Rohith and Joint Action Committee were eager to link his death with the disciplinary action taken by the University," a memorandum submitted before the committee mentions.

& Analysis

Rohith Vemula, a PhD student, hanged self in a hostel room on the campus in 2016, triggering protests across India.

Suicide kicked up a row after alleged that the action against Vemula had been prompted by complaints by BJP leaders.

The case gained prominence as a 'Dalit' issue, after the Left groups alleged caste-based discrimination.

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