Asst Professor apologises, matter now a closed chapter

Bhartesh Singh Thakur 

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, January 23 

Assistant Professor Komal Singh of public administration department tendered apology today to three women students in a case of sexual harassment case against him. 

A hearing had taken place before Panjab University Committee against Sexual Harassment (PUCASH) where the case ended in reconciliation. The girls also didn’t pursue the matter further.  

During one of the hearings in the case before the committee, Komal Singh had gone in inebriated condition. After that he was sent back. This was the fourth sexual harassment case against him. Here, he entered into a class in inebriated condition in August, 2017 and misbehaved with women students of the public administration department. As per the complaint, he uttered “love you” in the class.

The students had later lodged the complaint.

The report of PUCASH will now be placed before the Syndicate, which is a governing body of the PU. 

When contacted, chairperson of PUCASH Prof Manvinder Kaur refused to comment. 

Komal Singh also did not pick up the phone when called for his version. 

Cases against Komal Singh

The first complaint against Singh came when he misbehaved with a student and wrongfully facilitated her in getting a hostel room. But later the complaint was withdrawn but he had to resign from chairpersonship. 

On September 10, 2015, an MA student lodged a complaint against him as he indulged in “sexual talks” with her. The victim told that on September 4, 2015, Singh rang up her on phone and said, “Teri ankhen badi sundar hai, meri wife se milti hai (Your eyes are very beautiful and are similar to my wife’s). Teri ankhon mein bada dard hai (there is pain in your eyes), and I love you, I love you.” After Panjab University Committee against Sexual Harassment (PUCASH) held him guilty, the Syndicate on May 28, 2017, decided to remove him from service which however didn’t disqualify him from future employment. 

In the second proved case of sexual harassment of a 3rd year student, as per PUCASH, he used sexually coloured abusive language and pulled the hair of the victim. He was alleged to be drunk. PUCASH in its report dated May 31, 2017 commented that “repetitive misconduct always warrant more stringent punishment” and called for major penalty. 

The Syndicate in its meeting on June 25, 2017, again recommended for his removal from service and condemned him for writing to chancellor too.  

The Senate of the PU, which is the top governing body, had just suspended Komal Singh on September 24, 2017. Some Senators Even called for lighter punishment for him. 

He was issued a show-cause notice to which he had replied where he had found flaws in investigations.  The Senate is the punishing authority against him.  

Fact file 

A hearing had taken place before Panjab University Committee against Sexual Harassment (PUCASH) where the case ended in reconciliation. The girls also didn’t pursue the matter further.