PANAJI
The Goa University has debarred persons with unsound mind, deaf and mute from being a member of any of the authorities of the University.
Varsity Registrar V S Nadkarni in a notification issued last week has said that the decision has been taken by the executive council and the same has been assented by the Chancellor and Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai.
The University has amended the Statute SA-30 relating to disqualification, as per which “a person shall be disqualified for being chosen as and for being a member of any of the authorities of the university if he/she is of unsound mind or is a deaf or mute”.
The decision has been strongly condemned and criticized by the Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) who has demanded resignation of Goa University Vice Chancellor Harilal Menon for “discrimination”.
DRAG has written to the Chancellor demanding immediate revocation of the notification and the resignation of the Vice Chancellor on “moral grounds for discrimination against persons with disability and violating Section 3 of Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2016”.
DRAG has demanded that a person with disability (PwD) be nominated on the Executive Council of University to prevent such blunders in future.
