A complaint has been filed with the Andhra Pradesh Governor, alleging the misuse of a Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate by Dr. Ch. Chengaiah, a professor at Sri Venkateswara University (SVU), Tirupati. The Legal Rights Protection Forum, a Secunderabad-based organization, has called for Dr. Chengaiah’s immediate termination from his position, citing fraudulent claims of SC status to secure a government job.
The Legal Rights Protection Forum actively addresses issues of alleged fraud, misuse of legal provisions, and the protection of constitutional rights. The organization has previously brought similar cases to public attention.
The complaint, addressed to the Governor and copied to the Vice Chancellor and Registrar of SVU, outlines multiple allegations against Dr. Chengaiah. The professor, who has served as Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and as Dean (SCDC), was recently removed from his department leadership role following a university inquiry.
The High Power Committee, comprising university principals and vice-principals and chaired by the Vice Chancellor, investigated allegations of harassment of women and the propagation of Christianity in the classroom. According to the complaint, the Fact-Finding Committee confirmed these allegations, leading to Dr. Chengaiah’s removal as Head of the Department.
During the inquiry, Dr. Chengaiah reportedly admitted to being a Christian and acknowledged promoting Christianity to students. This admission raised questions about his eligibility to claim SC status.
Paragraph 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, stipulates that individuals professing religions other than Hinduism are ineligible for SC status. This principle was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in its November 2024 judgment in C. Selvarani vs. The Special Secretary-cum-District Collector & Others. The court emphasized that claiming SC status after converting to another religion constitutes fraud and undermines the reservation system’s intent.
The Legal Rights Protection Forum alleges that Dr. Chengaiah’s use of an SC certificate, despite being a Christian, breaches constitutional provisions and deprives genuine SC candidates of their rights.
In its letter, the Forum urged the Governor and university authorities to terminate Dr. Chengaiah’s employment, citing the gravity of the allegations and the potential harm caused to the SC community.
No official response has been issued yet by the university or the Governor’s office regarding the allegations or the requested action.
