Professor accused of sexual harassment debarred from exam duty

After running from pillar to post to get justice for nearly three months, the women lecturers of Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, Dasuya, have seen a ray of hope as the Panjab University has debarred the professor, they had accused of sexual harassment, from any examination.

After running from pillar to post to get justice for nearly three months, the women lecturers of Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, Dasuya, have seen a ray of hope as the Panjab University has debarred the professor, they had accused of sexual harassment, from any examination duty.

Communiqué to this effect was sent to one of the complainants, Nargis Dhillon, former head of the English department, from university's controller of examinations at the behest of the office of the Punjab governor. Seeing no positive response coming forth from any quarter, the complainants had approached the governor.

The Controller informed them through a letter that the committee constituted by the vice chancellor (VC) to probe the sexual abuse charges against the male professor and 'high handedness' 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 informs.

The complaints sent to the director, Public Instructions (DPI), Colleges and state education secretary are still gathering dust. The National Commission for Women too, after acknowledging the complaint, 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.