Allegations of SC/ST Harassment Against JNU’s Prof. Mazhar Asif—Concerns Raised Over His Potential Appointment as Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia
A disturbing case involving caste-based discrimination has surfaced, raising concerns about the integrity of the education system. Professor Mazhar Asif of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has been accused of harassment and discrimination against a female employee, Reena, who belongs to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community. These allegations not only highlight the abuse of power but also question the protection of the rights of the SC/ST community within academic institutions. The question now arises: Should someone facing such serious allegations be considered for the position of Vice-Chancellor at a prominent university like Jamia Millia Islamia?
During his tenure as Associate Dean of LLC JNU from 2019 to 2020, Mazhar Asif made every possible attempt to ruin the career of Reena, who belongs to the Scheduled Tribe community. It is alleged that Asif deliberately gave Reena low grades, blocked her promotions, and favored ineligible junior candidates over her. This is a clear example of caste discrimination, where a powerful official targeted a woman from a marginalized community.
Reena knocked on the doors of the Delhi High Court and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes for justice, where the seriousness of her complaint led to an independent review of her performance evaluations. The result was shocking—the initially given low grades of only 5.5 were increased to 8.66 after review, proving that Prof. Mazhar Asif had intentionally acted unjustly.
Several years have passed since this case came to light, and although Reena has bravely fought for justice, Asif remains at the center of power, having successfully suppressed this case using his political and personal connections. In contrast, he is now in the race to become the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Jamia Millia Islamia, which not only symbolizes injustice but also opens the doors to casteism and discrimination in the academic world.
This case raises a big question—can we entrust the leadership of a central university to such a casteist and tyrannical individual? If Mazhar Asif is allowed to become the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, it will lay the foundation for an even more terrifying future for SC/ST community students and staff.
It is time for the government and judiciary to take immediate and strict action against Mazhar Asif. Ignoring this case would not only betray justice but also signal danger to all those fighting against caste discrimination. It is essential to send a strong message by punishing individuals like Mazhar Asif that casteism and oppression will not be tolerated at any cost.
Failure to address these concerns may have far-reaching consequences for the SC/ST community and the broader education system of the country.
