#MustRead In one of the most disturbing documented cases of caste discrimination in medical education, SC/ST students at Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi repeatedly failed their first-year Physiology examination.
Several students had cleared other first-year subjects, yet they continued to fail Physiology over multiple attempts. According to reports, some students were forced to make as many as 4–14 attempts to clear the paper.
The students approached the Delhi High Court, alleging caste-based discrimination and seeking an independent re-examination. The Court ordered a fresh examination. In July 2011, the examination was conducted under close court supervision at the Army College of Medical Sciences.
The result was striking: 24 of the 25 SC students who had repeatedly failed the Physiology paper passed the re-examination.
The matter was subsequently investigated by a committee headed by Prof. Bhalchandra Mungekar on behalf of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. In its 2012 findings, the committee reported caste-based discrimination against SC/ST students and recommended action against officials it held responsible, along with compensation for affected students.
This case demonstrates why the argument that caste discrimination is merely a thing of the past cannot be accepted without evidence.
"If caste discrimination exists, then reservation exists for a reason: to address structural inequality and ensure representation and equal opportunity."