Allegations emerge of discrimination following sacred thread incident at REET examination centre in Sundarpur
Mohammad bin Ismail | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — The suspension of Prof Sunita Kumari, a field supervisor at the Sundarpur examination centre during the Rajasthan Teacher Eligibility Test (REET), has sparked a heated debate in the state. Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Welfare Society has condemned the action, claiming that Kumari, a Dalit woman, has been unfairly targeted because of her caste.
Kumari, who also serves as a professor at Government Higher Secondary School, Kheda Kachawasa, was suspended following an incident during the REET exam held on February 27th and 28th. The controversy began when two Brahmin candidates at the Sundarpur centre were asked to remove their sacred thread as part of the examination procedure. While similar incidents occurred at other centres, the removal of the sacred thread became a point of contention, especially among the Brahmin community.
The candidates protested the removal, citing cultural and religious concerns, but were reportedly not allowed to sit the exam unless they complied. Following the investigation into the matter, Kumari was suspended, while other staff members involved, including Head Constable Shivlal, were placed on line duty.
Dr Ambedkar Memorial Welfare Society’s General Secretary, GL Verma, expressed outrage over the suspension, alleging that the action is rooted in caste discrimination. “Sunita Kumari is a dedicated government employee from the Scheduled Caste community. Her suspension has deeply shocked the Dalit community in Rajasthan,” Verma said. “This is not the first time that strict examination rules have been enforced, yet no uproar occurred when similar incidents took place with female candidates removing nose rings or hand threads. She is being targeted simply because she is a Dalit woman.”
The incident has also provoked a response from the Brahmin community, with organisations like the Vipra Foundation raising concerns. The foundation condemned the incident, arguing that the sacred thread is of significant cultural and religious importance for Brahmins. In a memorandum submitted to the Dungarpur District Collector, the foundation questioned why the government had not issued any directive to remove the sacred thread and why such rules were imposed on the candidates without prior notice.
Verma added, “This is ridiculous. Sunita Kumari has become a soft target because of her caste. We will raise this issue in the state assembly.”
The suspension of Kumari follows a pattern of controversial suspensions involving teachers from Scheduled Caste and tribal communities. Previously, teachers like Hemlata Bairwa, a Dalit from Baran district, and Maneka Damor, a tribal from Dungarpur, were similarly suspended, leading to accusations of caste-based discrimination.
Hemlata Bairwa faced suspension after she refused to display a picture of Hindu goddess Saraswati at a Republic Day function, instead advocating for Savitribai Phule as the true symbol of education. Despite legal battles and reinstatement, Bairwa has yet to receive her salary since March 2024.
The case of Maneka Damor, who was suspended for her comments on Hindu religious practices at a cultural rally, also sparked public debate. Rajasthan High Court later stayed her suspension, deeming the action “arbitrary and irregular.”
These incidents have prompted concerns over the treatment of Dalit and tribal women teachers in Rajasthan, with critics questioning whether they are becoming easy targets for those with casteist biases. “Are teachers from the SC and ST categories really being targeted for upholding their duties and values,” Verma questioned.
