E-Paper
Prof accused of sexual harassment debarred from exam work
After running from pillar to post for nearly three months to get justice, women lecturers of Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, Dasuya, have seen a ray of hope as Panjab University has debarred the professor, whom they had accused of sexual harassment, from examination duty.
After running from pillar to post for nearly three months to get justice, women lecturers of Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, Dasuya, have seen a ray of hope as Panjab University has debarred the professor, whom they had accused of sexual harassment, from examination duty.
A communiqué to this effect was sent to one of the complainants, Nargis Dhillon, former head of English department, from the university controller of examinations at the behest of the office of the governor.
Seeing no positive response coming forth from any quarter, the complainants had approached the governor. In a letter, dated March 23, the controller has said the committee constituted by the vice-chancellor (V-C) to probe sexual abuse charges against the male professor and 'highhandedness' of the college authorities has submitted its report and the same would be placed before the syndicate in the next meeting.
“In anticipation of the syndicate decision, Balwinder Singh, assistant professor of Giani Kartar Singh Memorial Government College, Tanda, has been debarred from any examination duty,” the letter said.
Sources revealed that the inquiry committee, comprising senate members, had submitted its report to the V-C on Women's Day on March 8 and it was expected to be discussed in the syndicate meeting held on March 18 but for reasons known to the authorities concerned it was not taken up.
The complaints sent to the director, public instructions (colleges) and state education secretary are still gathering dust. The National Commission for Women, too, acknowledged the complaint, but did not move any further.
The college authorities, in the meantime, dismissed four of the five complainant teachers from service. Dhillon too has been suspended and served a charge sheet.
