Hyderabad: The Telangana government has set a three-month deadline to prepare a draft of the Rohith Vemula Telangana (Prevention of Identity-Based Discrimination in Higher Education) Bill, 2026, aimed at preventing caste-based and other forms of identity-based discrimination in universities and higher educational institutions across the state.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Friday directed officials to prepare a comprehensive draft of the proposed legislation and submit it to the Senior Civil Servants Committee within the stipulated timeframe. He stressed that the drafting process, including consultations with stakeholders, must be completed without delay.
The directions were issued during the second meeting of the Senior Civil Servants Committee on the proposed legislation, held at the Telangana Secretariat under the chairmanship of Bhatti Vikramarka.
SC Development Department to Lead Drafting Process
During the meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister suggested that the Scheduled Castes Development Department (SCDD) take the lead in preparing the draft bill. He also directed officials to ensure the representation of all relevant departments and organisations on the committee.
The Law Department will be included in the process, while officials were asked to explore the involvement of the Education Department, Home Department, University Grants Commission (UGC) and other relevant institutions.
The proposed legislation is intended to safeguard students’ rights and create a safe and inclusive environment in higher educational institutions, free from discrimination based on caste or social background.
Consultations With Students, Faculty and Legal Experts
Bhatti Vikramarka emphasised the need for extensive consultations with various stakeholders before finalising the draft. Officials were asked to prepare a list of participants, including students, faculty members, legal experts, civil society organisations, education specialists and other relevant groups.
He said the proposed law should address the actual problems faced by students in educational institutions, documented instances of discrimination and the practical challenges involved in implementing the legislation.
The Deputy Chief Minister stressed that the draft must reflect ground-level realities and provide an effective legal framework to protect students from identity-based discrimination.
NALSAR University Expertise to Be Sought
The committee discussed seeking legal and technical assistance from NALSAR University of Law to ensure that the proposed legislation is comprehensive and legally sound.
It was decided to draw on the university’s expertise and incorporate suggestions from relevant government departments and other specialists while preparing the draft.
Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Adluri Laxman Kumar, Special Chief Secretary Sabyasachi Ghosh, senior IPS officer Devendra Singh Chauhan, IAS officers Yogita Rana and Vijayendra Boyi, and advocate Disha Wadekar, among others, attended the meeting.
Congress Had Promised Rohith Vemula Act
The Congress had promised to introduce the Rohith Vemula Act during the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections. Last year, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also urged the Telangana government to enact the legislation.
Rohith Vemula, a 26-year-old Dalit research scholar at the University of Hyderabad, died by suicide on January 17, 2016. His death triggered widespread protests across university campuses in India over allegations of caste discrimination in higher educational institutions.
At the time, Vemula had faced suspension-related action by the university, including the suspension of his PhD registration and the stoppage of his stipend, following a dispute involving members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
The incident became a major national flashpoint in debates over caste discrimination, institutional accountability and the protection of students from marginalised communities.
With the proposed Rohith Vemula Telangana Bill, the state government is now moving towards fulfilling its electoral commitment. The next major step will be the preparation of the draft within three months, followed by the prescribed review and legislative process.
Key Focus: The proposed bill seeks to strengthen protections against identity-based discrimination and promote equal treatment and dignity for students in Telangana’s higher educational institutions.
