The Karnataka High Court has issued an interim stay on legal proceedings against officials and faculty members of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) following allegations of caste discrimination by associate professor Gopal Das. The court clarified that while the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE) can act against fraudulent caste certificates, it cannot investigate harassment claims1.

Justice Hemant Chandanagoudar noted that the DCRE lacks authority to proceed with the harassment allegations under the current rules. The court provided interim relief to IIMB officials, including Director Prof Rishikesha T Krishnan and others, and scheduled a further hearing for January 20251.

The case originated from a complaint by Dr. Gopal Das, who alleged caste-based discrimination and humiliation at the workplace. The DCRE had initiated proceedings based on this complaint, but the court’s recent order has put these proceedings on hold3.

The court’s decision has been welcomed by the IIMB officials, who have also challenged the legality of the First Information Report (FIR) registered against them. The next hearing is expected to take place in the second week of January 2025

  Casrte based discrimination, IIM Bangalore, proceedings aganst IIMB stayed by HC