Ashok Kumar, an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astrophysics at Delhi University (DU), has reportedly been denied promotion to professor despite an impressive academic record, leading to widespread allegations of caste-based discrimination.
Kumar, who belongs to the Dalit community, has made significant contributions to global scientific research. He previously served as a scientist and technical coordinator at CERN — the European Organisation for Nuclear Research in Geneva — participating in some of the world’s most prominent physics experiments. In recognition of his contributions, he is one of the recipients of the prestigious 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, valued at $3 million.
Peers describe Kumar as a highly cited academic, with an h-index of 120, an exceptional achievement by global standards. For context, the average h-index for Indian professors typically falls below 20. The h-index is a widely accepted metric that evaluates the productivity and citation impact of a researcher’s published work.
Despite these credentials, Kumar was declared “Not Found Suitable (NFS)” for promotion by a selection panel set up by the university under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS). The decision has triggered outrage among faculty groups and social justice organizations, who argue that the NFS label is increasingly being used to block SC, ST, and OBC candidates from advancement in higher education institutions.
The selection committee, chaired by DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh, interviewed three associate professors — including Kumar — on June 2. Although Kumar is senior and academically distinguished, the panel recommended promotion for two junior faculty members, while rejecting his application.
The panel included four external subject experts, a representative from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, and a nominee of the Visitor (the President of India).
The case has surfaced amid growing scrutiny of how the NFS designation is being applied in public academic institutions. Last month, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi criticized this trend on social media platform X, calling the NFS system “the new Manuvaad” — referring to the ancient Manusmriti and its role in codifying caste-based discrimination.
“Eligible candidates from SC/ST/OBCs are being deliberately declared ‘unsuitable’ so that they are kept away from education and leadership,” Gandhi posted on May 27.
A Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of SCs and STs had also recently flagged the disproportionate number of NFS cases at prestigious institutions like AIIMS Delhi, calling attention to systemic barriers in academic promotions.
In the wake of Kumar’s case, the Social Democratic Teachers’ Front (SDTF) and the National Confederation of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR) have demanded accountability, calling for the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor and a thorough review of DU’s selection procedures.
“We’ve repeatedly raised concerns about the NFS trend across departments — from professors to assistant professors. This latest case clearly shows the need for systemic reform to ensure transparency and fairness,” said a statement by the SDTF.
Ashok Bharti, chairman of NACDOR, claimed that 90% of NFS cases across Indian universities involve candidates from marginalized communities.
“The bureaucratic and academic machinery is deeply politicised and dominated by forward castes. The interview boards are often structurally biased. To ensure accountability, interviews should be video-recorded,” Bharti asserted.
In defense of the decision, a subject expert who served on the DU selection panel said it was a unanimous and considered choice.
“We evaluated all candidates on their subject knowledge and leadership capabilities. The final decision was collective,” the expert stated.
An email seeking a response from Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh has been sent, though his comments were still awaited at the time of publication.
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