The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) today asked the Delhi University to explain why it has reinstated the principal of Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, who was suspended pending the outcome of a trial for allegedly abetting the suicide of a lab assistant.
In the notice, DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal has also asked DU to explain why the internal complaints committee (ICC) of the college which had recommended suspension of the principal was reconstituted before expiry of its tenure.
Terming the reinstitution of the principal to the same post as well as reconstitution of the ICC as "extremely disturbing", the DCW has sought a reply from the univerity within seven days, failing which, it warned, appropriate action as per law would be taken.
The DCW issued the notice to DU on the complaint of the husband of 35-year-old Pavitra Bhardwaj, who had set herself on fire outside the Delhi Secretariat in October 2013. She had succumbed to her injuries.
In her suicide note, she had claimed that she was taking the extreme step to protest alleged physical and mental harassment by the principal and another staff of the college.
Pavitra's husband has alleged in his complaint that the principal, after his reinstatement, not only reconstituted the ICC but was also "creating undue pressure on the witnesses in the harassment case" lodged against him by the woman.
The Commission said it had sought a detailed status report from the Directorate of Higher Education of the Delhi Government on the allegations made by the husband and as per the reply received, the university had initially suspended the accused and then reinstated him as principal early last year.
The report also stated that the ICC, which ruled against the principal, was set up for a period of three years from April 1, 2014 onwards, but was reconstituted in April 2015 by the principal after his reinstatement.
As per the DCW notice, the report from the Directorate of
Higher Education also said that after his reinstatement, the principal wrote a letter to the governing body of the college prior to reconstituting the ICC citing his own case.
"In his letter, the principal complained against the then ICC accusing the Committee of 'misrepresenting facts, misusing the office and violating University of Delhi directions with ulterior motives'.
"He has further accused ICC of having malafide intentions and making frivolous representations against himself," DCW has said referring to the report.
"It is evident from the reply that the principal has reconstituted the Internal Complaints Committee (Sexual Harassment Committee) on the basis of his own allegations in his case.
"Upon perusal of documents submitted by the Department of Higher Education, it appears that Pavitra's husband's fears that the principal has reconstituted the ICC to pressurise the witnesses and destroy the evidence may have some basis," the notice said.
