Former Civil Servants Bemoan 'Complete Breakdown' of Governance in Uttar Pradesh

NewDelhi: A group of former civil servants has written an open letter condemning the ‘complete breakdown’ of governance and blatant violation of the rule of law in Uttar Pradesh, saying the Yogi Adityanath government has “ushered in a model of governance which swerves further and further away from the values of the constitution and the rule of law with each passing day”.

The statement by Constitutional Conduct Group, supported by several other concerned eminent citizens, said that clear that all branches of the administration in UP, including the executive magistrates and the police, have “collapsed”.

“We fear that, unless checked now, the damage to the polity and institutions in the state will result in the decay and destruction of democracy itself,” said the signatories, who have no political affiliations but are “committed to the constitution of India”.

They say that detentions, criminal charges and recovery orders have become common methods to suppress the right to dissent, mentioning among other things the arrest of journalist Siddque Kappan. Other developments which cause concern are rampant ‘encounter killings’, the so-called love jihad law, misuse of the National Security Act and the government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis, the signatories say.

“We fear that, unless checked now, the damage to the polity and institutions in the state will result in the decay and destruction of democracy itself,” the statement says.

They suggest measures which would reverse the administration’s trajectory. Among the prominent former civil servants who have signed the statement are Najeeb Jung, Harsh Mander, Shivshankar Menon, Aruna Roy, Julio Ribeiro, Jawhar Sircar, while it is supported by Justice (Retired) A.P. Shah and more than 200 other signatories who are not members of the Constitutional Conduct Group.

The full statement and list of signatories have been republished below.

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OPEN LETTER ON COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF GOVERNANCE AND BLATANT VIOLATION OF THE RULE OF LAW IN UTTAR PRADESH

We are a group of former civil servants of the All India and Central Services who have worked for decades with the Central and State Governments. As a group, we have no affiliation with any political party but are committed to the Constitution of India.

We write today to convey to the Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP), as also to the people of India, our deep anguish at what we see happening in UP.  We note with mounting alarm that the present ruling regime in UP has ushered in a model of governance which swerves further and further away from the values of the Constitution and the rule of law with each passing day. It seems clear that all branches of the administration, including the executive magistrates and the police, have collapsed. We fear that, unless checked now, the damage to the polity and institutions in the state will result in the decay and destruction of democracy itself.

1. Detentions, criminal charges, and recoveries to suppress dissent have become common instruments to be employed against all those who exercise their right of democratic protest. Even as peaceful protests broke out countrywide against CAA, NRC and NPR, the UP government stood out by responding almost immediately with an armoury of  repression, including a) police attacks on peacefully protesting students in Aligarh Muslim University, including using stun grenades, normally deployed against terrorists, and tear gas shells; b) filing 10,900 FIRs against protestors; c) resort to police firing killing 22 people; d) arrest of 705 people on charges of rioting, property destruction and attempt to murder; e) investigating 13000 social media posts and filing 63 FIRs with arrests of 103 netizens; f) detention and torture of 41 minors;  g) serving over 500 notices for alleged damage to property, and notices served for recovery to 57 persons; h) erecting hoardings in Lucknow displaying photographs of activists and civil society members accused of instigating violence and damaging public property (The Allahabad High Court declared this to be undemocratic and admonished the state government); i) passage of the Recovery of Damages to Public and Private Property Ordinance, 2020which empowers the state to set up a claims tribunal to recover compensation from citizens, not requiring the presence of the accused before passing final orders. (The Allahabad High Court observed the “ordinance is arbitrary”, designed only to frustrate the law and stayed orders in several cases of recovery. However, the UP legislature approved the conversion of the Ordinance into an Act without removing the flaw of arbitrariness.)

One particularly egregious example is the arrest of Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan, on his way to the UP town of Hathras to report on the brutal gang-rape of a 19-year-old Dalit girl and the complicity of the administration in the hurried overnight cremation of her body that had caused national outrage. Kappan has so far spent more than 200 days in prison. More recently, these repressive measures have taken the form of punitive actions against those highlighting lethal shortcomings in UP’s healthcare system.

2. Encounter injuries and killings as official hate targeting

 From 2017 to 2020, 124 alleged criminals were shot dead in 6,476 “encounters”, according to datacompiled and released by the UP police to the media. The word “encounters” has been used to also include the infliction of serious injuries caused, for example, by shooting a person in both knees and leaving him disabled for life. This means a police “encounter” every five hours every day during the first three years of CM Adityanath’s tenure. In a January 2019 letter to district magistrates, the Chief Secretary listed these “encounters” including  extra-judicial killings to be among the prominent “achievements” of the Adityanath administration. The “encounter” campaign led by Adityanath crosses new lines, because data shows that most of those killed in these encounters are either petty criminals or innocents,against whom no charge has been proven. They are also predominantly Muslims, Dalits and other backward castes. . The fact that a significantly disproportionate percentage of those killed till August 2020 were Muslims carries its own message.

3. Institutionalization and legitimization of vigilantism with the phenomenon of ‘police mitr’ etc. 

UP has seen a systematic blurring of the lines between actions of the state, particularly its police force, and that of vigilante groups such as the Hindu Yuva Vahini and other ‘cow vigilante’ groups that have enjoyed immunity for their violent actions. Members of these groups are appointed as “police mitr” or friends of the police, endowing them with authority and legitimacy, and enabling the police to work openly with vigilante groups. Recent administrative orders further institutionalise vigilantism under the garb of community policing through the ‘Prantiya Rakshak Dal’ and the ‘S10’.

4. The law on what is termed as ‘love jihad’, and biased investigations and arrests

On 24 November 2020, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet passed an ordinance “Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance”. On 25 February 2021, this was passed in the legislature by a voice vote.  The SIT set up by the state government to look into the cases of “love jihad” could find “no evidence of foreign funding or organised conspiracy”. On another occasion, the Union home ministry in February told Parliament that “love jihad” was not defined under the current laws of the country. The bogey of “love jihad”, thus  has no empirical, legal or official standing.

Euphemistically against ‘forceful conversion’, the law prohibits conversion from one religion to another by what it calls the use of misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement, fraud or marriage. These are defined ambiguously leaving ample space for the police and administration to misuse the law against minorities; for the police to file arbitrary cases; and for vigilante groups to threaten families, assault minorities, organise mobs and create conditions for minority exodus.

This law has been used by the state to frame innocent Muslim men who have friendly or romantic relations, or enter into marriage, with Hindu women. In just a month after the Ordinance, 86 people were booked in 16 cases alleging conversion for love or marriage among Hindu women and Muslim men. 54 people were arrested, including friends and family members of the main accused. The key accused in all the cases are Muslim men.

Since coming to power, the bias of the present government of UP against Muslims has been open and uninhibited. The recent instance of the destruction of a building allegedly housing a mosque in Barabanki, in contravention of a high court stay order, is a flagrant display of disregard for law and procedures. Further, keeping in mind the forthcoming elections, we apprehend that such actions by the UP government, if not controlled, may cause communal polarisation and disturbances.

5. Misuse of NSA in the name of cow slaughter and against dissenters

The National Security Act, 1980 (NSA) is a draconian preventive detention law under which the government can pre-emptively detain, up to one year, anyone it thinks is a threat to the security of the country or state, public order or maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community.

However, officials under the UP government have been using the law openly against mainly Muslims, Dalits and dissenters, for alleged offences that cannot be seen as a threat to national security. As per reports, of the 139 people booked under the law the year 2020, 76 are for alleged cow slaughter, 13 for anti-CAA protests and 37 for alleged heinous crimes. In 2017, the Director General of Police directed SPs and SSPs of all districts to book people accused of cow slaughter or transportation of cows for slaughter under NSA and the Gangster Act. In April 2020,the government said that whoever attacks police personnel during the COVID-19 lockdown will be booked under NSA. These blanket orders to apply NSA defeat the purpose of letting District Magistrates, who understand the ground situation, to judiciously apply their judgment to each case.

6. Handling of the Covid crisis

The hubris customary with the UP government, is also in full display in its handling of the Covid crisis. The Allahabad High Court scathingly observed that medical services in UP are running at god’s mercy. (Ram Bharose). The doctors trying to meet the Chief Minister to explain the ground situation and to present a set of demands were instead detained. A news article on health services in rural UP was titled, ‘People are Dropping Dead like Flies in Uttar Pradesh Villages’. As a case in point,Dhanoli village in Gorakhpur District did not have a single house without a Covid patient. Many of the PHCs in villages are shut or do not have any medical personnel. The people are left to fend for themselves. There are no testing centres available. Reports of patients dying due to non-availability of oxygen have been frequent in UP.

The Chief Minister however claimed that not only was there no such shortage, but those alleging this on public forums would be arrested for spreading false information, and their properties seized. The police proceeded to frame charges against hospitals which claimed oxygen shortage.

People faced massive difficulties in getting tested for Covid. Reports emerged that ‘unofficial’ orders had been issued to private labs to stop testing.

The most damning illustration of the government’s failure to provide healthcare to Covid patients was the gruesome spectacle of several thousand dead bodies floating in the Ganga river and buried in shallow graves in the sands along its banks. The world bore witness to the catastrophe that the people of UP had to endure owing to the failure of the government to act in time. Reports from crematoria show that across districts, deaths are being massively undercounted in Uttar Pradesh.

A call to restore constitutional norms   

We demand that:

• Arbitrary detentions and torture of and police attacks on peacefully protesting students, minorities, dissenters and others be stopped forthwith and recoveries for alleged damage to property under an “arbitrary” law be discontinued.
• There have been more than 6000 “encounters” including both serious injuries and extra-judicial killings, which are eulogized as achievements by top bureaucrats, their main targets being Muslims, Dalits and other backward castes. This illegal and unconstitutional practice must stop.
• The institutionalization and legitimization of vigilantism by appointing “police mitras” and giving immunity to cow protectors for the violence they inflict dissolve the distinction between the State and private armies. These policies must end.
• Targeting Muslim men for alleged “forced conversion” of Hindu women with whom they have a friendly or romantic relationship continues apace under a vaguely worded law that allows the police and administration to misuse it. This idea of “love jihad” – without legal empirical or official basis – must be jettisoned.
• The draconian preventive detention law, the National Security Act (NSA), has been mainly used against Muslims, Dalits and dissenters for alleged offences like cow slaughter, protests against the CAA and attacks on the police, that cannot be seen as a threat to national security. This misuse of law must stop and normal penal provisions invoked, if at all justified.
• Finally, the Covid crisis has been wholly mismanaged and thousands have lost their lives for want of health facilities like trained staff, hospitals, ICUs, oxygen and medicines. But the administration has denied any crisis and has slapped charges against those who write objectively or complain of the situation on the ground.  The crisis needs urgent handling and the practice of harassing or penalizing media or persons who report on inadequacies in the health system or voice their grievances in that regard cannot be allowed to continue. The invidious tendency to “shoot the messenger” must stop.

Satyameva Jayate

Names of CCG members who are signatories

The following persons have endorsed the letter written by the retired civil servants

1. Justice A. P. Shah, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and former Chairman, Law Commission
2. Admiral L. Ramdas, PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM, ADC, former Chief of Naval Staff
3. Captain S.Prabhala, IN (Retd.), VSM
4. A. Mangai,Academician and Theatre Artist,Marappachi
5. A.R.Vasavi,Professor,Independent Researcher
6. Aakar Patel,Columnist,Independent
7. Abha,Executive director,One Billon Rising India coordinator
8. Abhijit Guha,Former professor in anthropology at Vidyasagar University,Retired
9. AC Michael ,Former Member of Delhi Minorities Commission,United Christian Forum (UCF)
10. Achin Vanaik,Retd. Professor,University of Delhi
11. Aditi Yajnik,Astt Coordinator- Organising ,SEWA
12. Aditya Mukherjee,Professor (Retired),Jawaharlal Nehru University
13. Aditya Vikram Rametra,Social worker,
14. Adv. Philo Thomas,Director,Women’s Welfare Centre
15. Ajaya Kumar Singh,Citizen,Bhubaneswar
16. Alka Hingorani,Associate Professor,IIT Bombay
17. Allwyn,Citizen,Jesuits
18. Amarjeet Kaur,General Secretary AITUC,AITUC is national centre of trade unions
19. Amit Bhabhri,Resigned as Professor Emeritus from JNU,
20. Amitava Choudhury,Working Committee member,National Campaign for Peoples Right to Information
21. Amrita Mondal,Assistant professor,University of North Bengal
22. Ana Maria R. Nemenzo,National Coordinator,Woman Health Philippines
23. Anand K Sahay,Columnist,Journalist
24. Anand Kumar,President,Society for Communal Harmony
25. Anil Sadgopal,Former Head & Dean of Faculty of Education in Delhi University,All India Forum for Right to Education
26. Anita Cheria,Director,OpenSpace
27. Apoorvanand,Professor,Delhi University
28. Archana Prasad,Professor,Jawaharlal Nehru University
29. Arun Khote,Editor of Justice News,PMARC
30. Arun Mitra,ENT Surgeon (Senior Vice President) ,Indian Doctors for Peace and Development
31. Aruna Burte ,Retired ,Individual
32. Aruna Rodrigues,Private Citizen,
33. Arundhati Dhuru,National Alliance of People’s Movements,Lucknow
34. Arvind Kaul,IAS (Retd),
35. Asha Dey,Housewife,
36. Ashim Jain,Concerned individual,
37. Ashish Ranjan,Secretary,Jan Jagran shakti sangathan
38. Ashok Choudhary,General Secretary,All India Union of Forest Working People
39. Ashok Kumar,Community Mobilizer,Satark Nagrik Sangathan
40. Ashutosh Varshney,Sol Goldman Professor of International Studies and the Social Sciences ,Brown University
41. Asmina Venkatesh,Concerned individual,
42. Atul Deshmukh,National General Secretary,Rashtra Seva Dal
43. Beena Choksi,Educator,Independent
44. Bharat Dogra,Journalist and Honorary Convener of Save the Earth Now Campaign,Independent writer
45. Braj Kishore Jha,Ecoactivist ,Society
46. Brinda Adige,Social Worker,Indian Citizen
47. Bubla Basu,Educationist,Freelance
48. C R Bijoy,writer-researcher,independent
49. Cedric Prakash,Human Rights and Peace Activist/Writer,Jesuits
50. Chayanika Shah ,Retired College Lecturer,Forum Against Oppression of Women in Mumbai
51. Chhotebhai Noronha,National Convenor,Indian Catholic Forum in Kanpur
52. Chun,Housewife,
53. Clifton D’ Rozario,National Convener,All India Lawyers Association for Justice
54. D R  Chand,Retired,
55. Deepa Balsavar,Writer and illustrator,
56. Deepa Vasudevan,Managing Trustee,Sahayatrika
57. Deeptha Umapathy,Social Researcher,
58. Denzil Fernandes,President,Social Action Trust
59. Devika Singh,Individual,Member of Alliance for the Right to ECD
60. Dilip Simeon,Scholar and writer,Not applicable
61. Dinesh Abrol,Professor ,TRCSS JNU
62. Dinesh C. Mali,Advocate,Rajasthan Highcourt Principal seat
63. Dipak Dholakia,Convener,Indian Community Activists Network – ICAN
64. Dr Lubna Sarwath,State General Secretary of Telangana,Socialist Party (India)
65. Dr. Mohan Rao,Retired professor,Former professor at JNU in New Delhi
66. Dr. Sanjay Mangala Gopal,National Convener,National Alliance of Peoples’ Movements (NAPM)
67. Dr. Sudhir Vombatkere
68. Dr. Gabriele Dietrich,Professor retd,NAPM
69. Edwin M John,Founder,VHAK
70. Elsa Muttathu,Member,Indian Christian Women’s Movement
71. Faisal Khan,National Convenor,Khudai Khidmatgar in Delhi and Farukkhabad
72. Flavia Agnes,Founder Majlis Mumbai,Majlis
73. G. N. Devy,National President,Rashtra Seva Dal
74. Gabriele Dietrich,President of Pennurimai Iyakkam,NAPM
75. Gauhar Raza,Former Chief Scientist,CSIR
76. Gautam Chaudhury,Disability Development worker,
77. Ghanshyam Shah,Retired Professor JNU in New Delhi,Free Lance social researcher
78. Gulshan Dietl ,Professor (Retired),
79. Hannan Mollah,General Secretary,All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS)
80. Hasina Khan,Gender activist,Bebaak Collective
81. Indu Prakash Singh,Facilitator,CityMakers  Mission International
82. Irfan Engineer,Member,All India Secular Forum
83. Ishwarbhai Prajapati,Retired from Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad,New Socialist Initiative.
84. J. Siqueira,Retired,IWTF
85. Jagdeep Chhokar,Professor (Retired),Free lancer
86. Jagdish Patel,Director,
87. Jagriti Rahi,Gandhian Social Activist,Varanasi
88. Jashodhara Dasgupta,Independent Researcher,
89. Javed Anand,Convener,Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy
90. Jaya Iyer,Artist teacher,Aalaya
91. Jayapadma,Teacher,Rajghat Besant School
92. Jayati Ghosh,Professor,University of Massachusetts at Amherst in USA
93. John Dayal,Writer,AICU
94. Joseph Chenakala,Social Activist,Reg. non profit organization
95. Joseph Vijayan,Spokesperson,Coastal Watch
96. K Babu Rao,President,Human Rights Forum of Hyderabad City
97. K J Joy,Coordinator,Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India
98. Kalyani Menon Sen,Independent researcher,Independent researcher
99. Kapil Patil,MLC from Maharashtra,Managing Trustee of the RSD
100. Kochurani Abraham,Doctor ,Indian Women Theologians Forum
101. Koninika Ray,National Secretary,National Federation of Indian Women
102. Krishna Das TN,Employee,
103. Laji Paul,Pastor,Pentecostal
104. Lakshmi Krishnamurty,Researcher in education and women’s empowerment – retired,Alarippu
105. Lalita Ramdas,Educator,Lara-Ramu Farm
106. Lata Singh,Associate Professor,Centre for Women’s Studies in JNU
107. Leela Samson,Bharatnatyam dancer,
108. Manju Kapur,Writer,
109. Manoj Misra,Convener,Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan
110. Maria James,Advocate,All India Lawyers Union
111. Mathew,Counsellor,
112. Mathew,Teacher,
113. Maulshree Sinha,BI Consultant,
114. Maya Krishna Rao,Theatre Artist,
115. Md. Jahangeer,Teacher,Concern citizen of India
116. Meera Dewan,Filmmaker,South View Productions
117. Meera Sanghamitra,Social Activist ,National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM)
118. Monisha Rao,President,India Friends Association
119. Moti Lal Nepali,Chair,Dalit Welfare Association
120. Mridula Mukherjee,Professor (Retired),Jawaharlal Nehru University
121. Mritiunjoy Mohanty,Professor,IIM Calcutta
122. Muniza Rafique Khan,Registrar,Gandhian Institute of Studies in Varanasi
123. Muralidharan,General Secretary,National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled
124. Nachiket Udupa,Member,Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan
125. Nalini Nayak,Member,Protsahan
126. Nandini Sundar,Professor of Sociology,Delhi University
127. Nandita Narain,Associate Professor ,St.Stephen’s College at Delhi University
128. Naresh Dadhich ,Emeritus Professor ,Former Director at IUCAA in PUNE
129. Neelam Man Singh Chowdhry ,Theatre Director and teacher & Professor Emeritus from Panjab  University,
130. Neera Chandhoke,Professor,Delhi University  retd
131. Neeraj Jain,Convenor,Lokayat in Pune
132. Niloufer Bhagwat,Vice President,Indian Association of Lawyers
133. Nisha Biswas,Scientist,CSIR
134. Nivedita Menon,Professor,JNU
135. Noopur,Executive Director ,National Coalition for Education
136. Om Prakash Singh,Senior Advisor,Centre for Financial Accountability
137. P.L.Mimroth,Chief functionary,
138. Pamela Philipose,Journalist,Independent
139. Panchali Ray,Researcher,Independent Researcher
140. Pandurang Hegde,Activist,Chipko-Appiko Movement
141. Paul Divakar N,Chair,Asia Dalit Rights Forum
142. Pavan Nair,Veteran,
143. Peehu Pardeshi,Assistant Professor,TISS
144. Prabhat Patnaik,Professor Emeritus,Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi
145. Pradip Prabhu,Advocate,Kashtakari Sangatana & Campaign for Survival and Dignity
146. Prakash Louis,Coordinator,Jesuit Migrant Service
147. Pramod Yadava,Professor (superannuated),Jawaharlal Nehru University
148. Preeti Sampat,Academic,India
149. Prem Krishna Sharma,Advocate,P.U.C.L.
150. Primila Lewis,Social activist ,None now but with the common people everywhere
151. Prof Santosh Mehrotra ,Visiting Prof at University of Bath in UK,Former Prof Econ JNU & Director General at National Inst for Labour Econ Research
152. Prof. K.L. Sharma,Former Professor of Sociology and Rector at JNU in New Delhi,Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur
153. Professor Ajay K. Mehra,Professor and former Atal Senior Fellow in NMML,Retired
154. Puran Bartwal,Independent human rights worker,
155. Purushothama Bilimale,Professor (retired),Former professor  JNU
156. Pushkar Raj,Researcher ,PUCL
157. Radha Holla,Independent researcher on child nutrition and conflict of interest,
158. Rahul Basu,Concerned individual,
159. Rahul Mukherji,Professor and Executive Director,South Asia Institute at Heidelberg University
160. Rajendran Narayanan,Assistant Professor,Azim Premji University
161. Rajni Bakshi,Author,PUCL
162. Rakesh Gupta,Retired Professor at CPS in JNU,
163. Ram Puniyani,Writer,Center for Study of Society and Secularism
164. Ramani Atkuri,Public Health Professional,
165. Ramesh Dixit,Retired professor,Lucknow University
166. Ranin Chakraborty,Retired Reacher,Individual
167. Ravi Srivastava,Former Professor at JNU,IHD
168. Reni Jacob,Advocate,Madras HC
169. Richa Audichya,Member,BBAVM
170. Rohan D’ Souza,Professor ,ASAFAS at Kyoto University
171. Rohini Hensman,Writer ,Independent scholar
172. Romi Mahajan,CEO,KKM Group
173. RP Kaushik,Former Professor at SIS in JNU,Former Ambassador
174. S Balakrishna,Retired ,
175. Sagari Ramdas,Veterinary Scientist,Food Sovereignty Alliance in India
176. Salil Shetty,Senior Fellow,Harvard University
177. Samar Bagchi ,Retired,NAPM
178. Samuel Asir Raj,Professor,Manomaniam Sundaranar University at Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu
179. Sandeep Pandey,Vice President,Socialist Party (India)
180. Sandhya Gokhale,Activist member,Forum Against Oppression of Women
181. Saumyajit Bhattacharya,Associate Professor,Kirori Mal College in University of Delhi
182. Sebastian Joseph,Assistant Professor,UC College Aluva Kerala
183. Selma,A retired teacher from West Bengal,Social Centre in Siliguri
184. Shabnam Hashmi,Social Activist & Founder ,Anhad
185. Shaikh Ghulam Rasool,Chairperson J&K RTI Movement,National Campaign for Peoples Right to Information
186. Shakeel Ur Rahman,Doctor ,CHARM
187. Shanti Picardo,Social worker,Forum of Religious for Peace and Justice
188. Sharmila,Assoc Prof,IIT Bombay
189. Shewli,Associate Professor,Tata Institute of Social Sciences
190. Shiraz Bulsara Prabhu,Human Rights defender,PUCL & Kashtakari Sanghatana
191. Shiv Visvanathan,Professor,Jindal Global Law School
192. Shomie Das,Retd,
193. Shruti Kabo,Lead Designer of Research & Strategy,
194. Shwetha,Teacher,Indian
195. Sr. Justine ,Advocate ,Congregations of St. Joseph
196. Sri Mayasandra,Community Development Worker,Independent
197. Sucheta Mahajan,Professor,Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi
198. Sudhir Kumar,Architect,PUCL
199. Sudip Bhattacharya,Free-lancer,
200. Suhas Kolhekar,Health Rights and Social Activist,National Alliance of People’s Movements
201. Suhasini Mulay,Actor,Individual
202. Sujata Gothoskar,Member,Forum Against Oppression of Women
203. Sujata Patel,Distinguished Professor ,Savitribai Phule Pune University
204. Sukla Sen ,Peace Activist ,PUCL in Maharashtra
205. Sukumar Muralidharan,Journalist ,Independent
206. Sumit Sarkar,Retired Professor,University of Delhi
207. Sunanda Sen,Retired  Professor  jnu,Retired Professor
208. Swadesh Mitter Mahajan,Professor pf Physics,University of Texas at Austin
209. Syed Ali Nadeem Rezavi ,Professor ,Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh
210. Syeda Hameed,Writer & Activist,Muslim Womens Forum
211. T. Vijayendra,Author,SAPACC
212. Tanika Sarkar,Retired Professor,Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi
213. Tara Murali,Architect,Individual
214. Teena Gill,Filmmaker,Independent
215. Teesta Setalvad,Secretary ,Citizens for Justice and Peace
216. Tejaram Mali,Coordinator,SR Abhiyan
217. Thalekkara Krishnan Arun,Editorial Contributor,Multiple publications
218. Theramma,Social worker,
219. Timir Basu,Editor of Frontier,Independent
220. Tushar Gandhi,Author & Activist,Mahatma Gandhi Foundation
221. Uma Chakravarti,Retired teacher,Independent historian
222. Uma V Chandru,Member,WSS
223. V. Gadgil,Civil society activists,
224. V.Vasanthi Devi,Formerly Vice-Chancellor of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tamil Nadu & Formerly Chairperson of the Tamil Nadu State Commision for Women,Movement to Save School Education in Tamil Nadu
225. Vaishna Narng,Professor Retired,JNU retd
226. Vandana Kulkarni,Social activist,
227. Varghese Theckanath,Convenor,Campaign for Housing and Tenurial Rights (CHATRI)
228. Vasudha Dalmia,Professor,University of California at Berkeley
229. Vijaya Ramchandran,Jagriti Bal Vikas Samiti,Kanpur
230. Vikram Soni,Emeritus Prof  ,Jamia Millia
231. Vinay Jain,Graphic designer,
232. Vinod Bhagat,Senior Advocate,
233. Virginia Saldanha,Coordinator of Indian Christian Women’s Movement Mumbai.,Indian Christian Women’s Movement
234. Walter Fernandes,Director ,NESRC
235. Wilfred Dcosta,Alliances & Linkages Convenor,Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF)
236. Zoya Hasan,Professor Emerita at Jawaharlal Nehru University,JNU