The principal of a Mumbai government college has been booked for making casteist remarks against a student.
A sessions court earlier this week rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Urmila Paralikar, in-charge principal of the Government of Maharashtra Secondary Training College, Fort.
The principal was booked by the Azad Maidan police station under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in July.
According to the complainant, Sumitra Mangat, a first-generation learner hailing from Khandipada, a village in Talasari Taluk of Palghar, she was humiliated in front of the entire class. The incident took place when the student was sitting in her class with other classmates. The principal entered the classroom and asked the student about her handwriting. She then passed casteist remarks against the student, the complainant said.
“Noticing my speech and way of writing, Paralikar madam asked me about my native place and then asked if I am an Adiwasi (a tribal). She also asked if this is how teachers in schools in my village speak and if I will be teaching my students in tribal language too. She has made similar caste-based derogatory remarks on other students in my class who are from reserved category,” the student earlier said to Indian Express.
