ALL INDIA FORUM FOR RIGHT TO EDUCATION

अअअअ अअअअ अअअअअअ अअअअअअ अअअ

Secretariat: 306, Pleasant Apartments, Bazarghat, Hyderabad 500 004

Email: aifrte.secretariat@gmail.com; Website: www.aifrte.in

सससस सससससस सस सससस, सससस ससस सस सससससससससस !

Board of Advisers

Prof. R.K. Agnihotri, Rajasthan Formerly Deptt. of Linguistics, Delhi University

Sri G. S. Asiwal, Madhya Pradesh Senior Trade Union Leader, Bhopal

Dr. P.M. Bhargava, Andhra Pradesh Founder-Director, CCMB, Hyderabad

Dr. Vasanthi V. Devi, Tamil Nadu Formerly Vice Chancellor, M. S. University; Chairperson, Institute of Human Rights Education, Madurai

Dr. Hiren Gohain, Assam Poet & Literary Critic, Guwahati

Prof. Sudarshan Iyengar, Gujarat Formerly Vice Chancellor, Gujarat Vidyapeeth

Sri Devanooru Mahadeva, Karnataka Writer & Activist for Social Justice, Bangalore

Sri Kedarnath Pandey, Bihar Gen. Secy., Bihar Madhaymik Shikshak Sangh

Dr. G. G. Parikh, Maharashtra Yusuf Meharally Centre, Mumbai

Prof. N. D. Patil, Maharashtra Educationist and Peasant Leader, Kolhapur

Prof. Prabhat Patnaik, Haryana Economist & Professor Emeritus, JNU

Prof. Ram Puniyani, Maharashtra Writer & All India Secular Forum, Mumbai

Sri S. P. Shukla, Uttarakhand Formerly Commerce Secretary, Govt. of India

Prof. Jagmohan Singh, Punjab Senior Civil Liberties Activist, Ludhiana

Sri Shatrughan Pd. Singh, Bihar President, Bihar Madhaymik Shikshak Sangh

Sri Bhai Vaidya, Maharashtra President, Akhil Bharat Samajvadi Adhyapak Sabha, Pune

Prof. Rooprekha Verma, Uttar Pradesh Formerly Vice Chancellor, Lucknow University

Presidium

Dr. Meher Engineer, West Bengal Chairperson, AIFRTE; Ex-President, Indian Academy of Social Science; Kolkata

Prof. Wasi Ahmed, Bihar Former Joint Secretary, AIFUCTO; Patna

Sri Prabhakar Arade, Maharashtra President, AIFETO; Kolhapur

Prof. G. Haragopal, Telangana Visiting Professor, NLSIU, Bengaluru

Prof. Madhu Prasad, Delhi Formerly Deptt. of Philosophy, Zakir Husain College, Delhi University

Prof. K. Chakradhar Rao, Telangana Deptt. of Economics, Osmania University

Prof. Anil Sadgopal, Madhya Pradesh Formerly Dean, Faculty of Education, Delhi University; Bhopal

Prof. K. M. Shrimali, Delhi Formerly Deptt. of History, Delhi University

Dr. Anand Teltumbde, West Bengal Writer & Civil Liberties Activist, Deptt of Management, IIT, Kharaghpur

20th March, 2017 Release Prof. Saibaba from Jail and

provide him urgent and continuous health care as he is facing life risk

The conviction by the trial court of Prof Saibaba of the Delhi University to life

imprisonment for having “sympathies” with the Naxalites / Maoists is an outrage by any

standards, legal or humanitarian. Here it may be noted properly that the Supreme Court

has repeatedly maintained that subscription to an ideology or membership of a group, even

it is banned organization, cannot be considered a crime until the attempt to incite violence

is unequivocally established. Prof. Saibaba is 90% disabled and his last incarceration in

solitary confinement in the Nagpur jail has led to a serious deterioration in his medical

condition which is now life-threatening since he has been jailed once again and hence

cannot receive the medical care that he urgently and constantly requires. As of now, his

health is deteriorating very fast and putting the life at risk. It is impossible to ignore the

most vindictive and inhuman attitude of the State agencies in so treating a severely

disabled person on the claim that he is a member of a `banned’ organization and hence

requires to be treated with no respect or consideration for his medical condition.

There is also a serious apprehension that given the present climate, when faculty members

are sought to be suspended / dismissed from service for attending or organizing seminars,

pressure is being brought on the University of Delhi to terminate the services of Prof

Saibaba. We hope that the authorities of Delhi University will not allow any pressure and

will protect the democratic rights of its faculty members in general and Prof. Saibaba in

the present case.

This is completely illegal and has a dangerous bearing on the service conditions of all

university and college teachers. Termination of service can only be done if the entire legal

process has been completed, and this includes the final rejection of the individual’s appeal

to the highest court, the Supreme Court. Until then the person could only be suspended

with all the conditionalities that this implies, including receipt of salary. This is important

as the financial needs of the family and the legal expenses of the recourse to higher courts

of justice would otherwise be severely restrained.

AIFRTE strongly condemns any attempts to deny Prof Saibaba his legal and humanitarian

rights. Given his critical medical condition, he should be immediately released from prison

and all his democratic rights should be fully protected till the entire legal process is

completed.

AIFRTE Presidium

Dr. Meher Engineer, Chairperson, AIFRTE;

Ex-President, Indian Academy of Social Science; Kolkata,

Prof. Wasi Ahmed, Bihar, Former Joint Secretary, AIFUCTO; Patna

Sri Prabhakar Arade, Maharashtra, President, AIFETO; Kolhapur

Prof. G. Haragopal, Andhra Pradesh, National Fellow, ICSSR; TISS, Hyderabad

Prof. Madhu Prasad, Delhi, Formerly Dept. of Philosophy, Zakir Husain College, Delhi

University

Prof. K. Chakradhar Rao, Telengana, Dept. of Economics, Osmania University,

Hyderabad

Prof. Anil Sadgopal, Madhya Pradesh, Former Dean, Faculty of Education, Delhi

University; Bhopal

Prof. K. M. Shrimali, Delhi, Formerly Dept. of History, Delhi University

Dr. Anand Teltumbde, West Bengal, Professor of Management, IIT, Kharagpur

सससससस सससस ससस ससससससस, सस सस सससस सस सससससस

Contacts: Organising Secretary: Sri D. Ramesh Patnaik, Hyderabad; Mob: 09440980396, 040-23305266; Email: drameshptk@gmail.com

Office Secretary: Sri Lokesh Malti Prakash, Bhopal; Mob: 09407549240; Email: lokeshmaltiprakash@gmail.com