PANAJI
Stating that it had no intentions to cause any “discrimination”, the Goa University on Tuesday announced to delete the provision that debarred a person 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 had 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 amendment was assented by the Chancellor and Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai.
The decision was strongly condemned and criticized by the Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) who had demanded resignation of Goa University Vice Chancellor Harilal Menon for “discrimination”.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, GU has said that “it had no intention to hurt anybody having any kind of disabilities and this was inadvertent error from the side of the University”.
The Varsity explained that there was an old and existing statutory provision in the University Statute SA-30 related to disqualification of persons having unsound mind or those who are deaf, mute or suffering from contagious leprosy being appointed as a member of any university authority.
The University recently notified the partly amended Statute SA-30 by deleting the provisions towards leprosy as per directives of Goa Government as well as the Directorate General of Health Services, it said further.
“The University is immediately proceeding to delete the remaining provisions regarding disqualification of persons having unsound mind or those who are deaf, mute being appointed as members of any University authority from the said statute,” the GU assured.
The University further clarified that there is no such discrimination actually being made and many individuals with various disabilities have already been appointed in various positions as per prevailing rules and regulations.
