Telangana to prepare draft Rohith Vemula Bill in three months

The Telangana government is preparing legislation aimed at protecting students from caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutions, following a similar initiative in Karnataka. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has directed officials to prepare a draft of the proposed Rohith Vemula Telangana Bill within three months.

Hyderabad: Following Karnataka’s lead, the Congress government in Telangana is planning to bring in legislation to protect students from caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutions. The draft of the proposed Rohith Vemula Telangana Bill is expected to be ready within three months.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Friday directed officials to prepare the preliminary draft within the deadline and submit it to a senior civil servants’ committee for examination. Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Adluri Lakshman Kumar, along with senior officials, attended the review meeting held at the State Secretariat here.

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Bhatti Vikramarka said the legislation would protect students’ rights, prevent discrimination based on caste and social background, and ensure equal opportunities in educational institutions. He directed the Scheduled Castes Development Department to lead the drafting exercise, involving the Law, Education and Home departments and the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The government will consult students, faculty members, legal experts, civil society organisations and education experts before finalising the provisions. The meeting also discussed obtaining legal and technical assistance from NALSAR University of Law, which has agreed to support the drafting process.