The Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), a Hyderabad-based legal activism group, has lodged a formal complaint with the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, urging him to terminate the services of Dr. Ch. Chengiah, a professor at Sri Venkateswara University (SVU), Tirupati, who is implicated in the fraudulent use of a Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate to secure a government position.
In a complaint dated December 16, addressed to Andhra Pradesh Governor and copied to SVU authorities, the LRPF highlighted other allegations against Dr. Chengiah, including harassment of women and the promotion of Christianity to students.
We filed a complaint with the Honourable Governor of Andhra Pradesh requesting the termination of Dr. Ch. Chengiah, Professor at Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, for misusing SC certificate to secure a government job, despite being a Christian. https://t.co/6OC6nxKGOV
— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) December 16, 2024
According to the LRPF, Dr. Chengiah, who is a practicing Christian, unlawfully obtained an SC certificate to benefit from reservation policies meant for Scheduled Caste members. This, LRPF argues, violates the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, which states that individuals who profess religions other than Hinduism cannot claim SC status.
Recently, a high power committee, comprising university principals, vice principals, and chaired by the vice chancellor and registrar, investigated the allegations based on a fact-finding committee and found them to be substantiated. As a result, Dr. Chengiah was relieved of his role as department head and additional duties as Dean (SCDC). The Fact-Finding Committee confirmed Dr. Chengiah’s misuse of his position to propagate religious beliefs in the classroom.
During the inquiry, Dr. Chengiah reportedly admitted to being a Christian and acknowledged promoting Christianity to students.
The LRPF has now called for the professor’s immediate dismissal, citing his actions as a breach of constitutional provisions and a grave injustice to genuine SC community members.
LRFP has referred to a recent Supreme Court judgment reaffirming that such actions constitute fraud and undermine the purpose of reservations.
The LRPF stated in their complaint: “The fraudulent use of an SC certificate by Dr. Ch. Chengiah to secure a government position constitutes a blatant violation of the Constitution and is an injustice to those genuinely belonging to the Scheduled Caste community. Such actions must not go unpunished, and we urge the authorities to take immediate action, including the termination of his services.”
The forum also highlighted the broader implications of such fraudulent behavior, calling it a “grave injustice” to deserving candidates and a “breach of trust” in public service institutions. They have demanded his immediate dismissal and legal action against him.
LRPF President A.S. Santhosh said, “Tirupati is a holy pilgrimage center, the abode of Sri Venkateswara Temple, and it has been under continuous attack by the church and its ecosystem. They are making every effort, whether through street-level evangelism, home churches, or Christians employed in the TTD at Tirumala. It is part of the church’s agenda to target and undermine the Hinduness of Tirupati and Tirumala.”
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