High court seeks reply from varsity on bias charge

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the registrar and the head of department of physical education of the Mumbai University following a petition filed by a former assistant professor alleging discrimination.

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the registrar and the head of department of physical education of the Mumbai University following a petition filed by a former assistant professor alleging discrimination.

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The division bench of justices AM Khanwilkar and AP Bhangale has given the registrar and the head of department, Vasanti Kadiraman, two weeks time to reply to the petition filed by Sachin Balu Shinde.

Shinde, 27, an assistant professor of physical education, alleged that he was discriminated against because he was a Marathi, and was forced to resign from his post.

Shinde alleged that Kadiraman had threatened to implicate him in a false sexual harassment case, as she had done with another lecturer, Vishambar Jadav. Jadav has also moved the high court seeking registration of FIR against the head of department for allegedly assaulting him.

Shinde’s petition states that the woman threatened to kill him at the hands of goons and refused to return his stolen thesis, which ultimately compelled him to resign. He alleged that the registrar of the university failed to take any action when two female students registered complaints against Kadiraman. According to them, she had compelled many students to register complaints of sexual harassment against male lecturers and threatened to fail them in their exam if they did not comply.

The court also issued notices to the commissioner of police, and the in-charge of Bandra-Kurla Complex police station, where Shinde had lodged a complaint. The police had refused to register an FIR because of Kadiraman’s influence, alleged Shinde’s counsel Gunratna Sadawarte.

Shinde has sought registration of FIR under section 506 of the Indian Penal Code for threatening to cause death or grievous hurt. He has also prayed for CID probe and appointment of a judicial officer for overseeing the investigation. The matter will come up for further hearing after two weeks.