The Jharkhand unit of People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) on Saturday wrote to governor Ramesh Bais to consider the plight of an orthopaedically disabled UGC NET-qualified candidate agitating outside Raj Bhavan for 10 days against non-payment of honorarium from Dumka University.

The letter written by PUCL Jharkhand general secretary Arvind Verma draws attention of the governor — who is also the chancellor of all the varsities in the state — to the plight of Rajesh Kumar, claiming to be 70 per cent orthopaedically challenged and a resident of Deoghar who has cleared UGC NET twice.

“Rajesh Kumar taught economics to post-graduate students at Sido Kanhu Murmu University (also known as Dumka University) for around one year before he was terminated when he complained about non-payment of honourarium to you. Rajesh further claims that he was not appointed through any written document but was promised that he will be paid as per the regular employee and based on that oral promise, he gave his services for a year without any pay. The same is substantiated from the fact that he has documents which acknowledge his pending honourarium by the university. It becomes important to enquire as to how someone can first be appointed without any formal appointment as it excludes the person from claiming employment benefits at a later stage,” the letter states.

“Further, as per the statement of the university officials (to a fact-finding team of PUCL), Rajesh Kumar was appointed only for his own experience and there was no assurance of any payment. However, the university officials have not given any rule, document or any provision which allows them to appoint someone on verbal assurance that too without any pay and solely for experience.

Making someone work without pay for one year is no less than economic exploitation. It needs to be enquired on what terms and conditions was Rajesh Kumar appointed to teach at the university so that appropriate action can be taken,” the letter adds.

The letter informs that Rajesh Kumar claims that he had already brought the facts about his appointment and subsequent removal to governor’s notice, after which the university terminated his services in April last year.

The letter also alleges that Rajesh Kumar has accused the Dumka town police officials of harassment.

“The Dumka town police allegedly on the instigation of the University officials picked him unlawfully when he was protesting against his illegal termination. He was kept at the police station from morning till evening without any formal complaint or reason and after taking his signatures on certain papers, he was released. If the allegations levelled by him are true, the entire incident needs to be investigated immediately. This use of state machinery against common citizens that too a disabled person is highly unfortunate,” the letter states.

The letter further states, “Prima facie it appears to be a clear violation of the fundamental right to equality, dignity and right to life of Rajesh Kumar. Even if he was not formally appointed but if he rendered his services based on an oral promise of getting paid, then he is lawfully entitled to his dues. It’s the violation of the Rights to Person with Disability Act, which protects a disabled person against discrimination and arbitrary action by the state. The fact that he has made representations to you and is protesting outside your office for the past more than 10 days shows lack of empathy and disregard by the State and Central Government in protecting the basic rights of a disabled person.”

The letter requests the governor to initiate a probe into the issue and take action against the university officials responsible for the harassment, if the allegations are true.