Karnataka Cabinet approves Rohith Vemula Bill to combat campus caste bias
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Bengaluru: The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday, 16 April, cleared the Karnataka Rohith Vemula (Prevention of Exclusion or Injustice) (Right to Education and Dignity) Bill, named after the Dalit student who died by suicide in Hyderabad in 2016 amid alleged caste discrimination.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil confirmed the approval after inputs from various departments, noting the bill—previously deferred—would soon see detailed announcements.
The draft proposes up to Rs 1 lakh compensation for students facing caste bias in higher education, plus a one-year jail term and Rs 10,000 fine for offenders. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah last year to enact such legislation.
The Cabinet also greenlit a revised Rs 436.44 crore estimate for an elevated flyover at IOC Junction and a two-lane rail overbridge at Baiyappanahalli under EPC mode. It approved Rs 13,262 crore for 11 elevated corridor projects spanning 75.6 km across five municipal corporations, to be executed by Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited. On road planning, the 2023 Intermediate Ring Road alignment was scrapped in favour of the 2007 version with minor modifications.
(Inpts from IANS)
