PU Senate suspends ‘chronic molester’

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, September 24 

The Panjab University (PU) Senate today decided to suspend assistant professor Komal Singh of public administration department on the campus for being a chronic molester and issue a show-cause notice to him asking why he shouldn’t be removed from the service. There have been four complaints against Komal Singh. In two, he has been held guilty, one is still pending and another was later withdrawn. 

The Senate is the punishing authority in his case. Meanwhile, some Senators expressed views for reducing punishment against him. 

Debate in Senate

Senator Ajay Ranga said, “The inquiry report has a lot of loopholes. He (Komal Singh) has problems. He is alcoholic. A family is also attached with him. The punishment of removal from service is harsh and should be lesser.” He claimed that recent complaint against him was false. 

Prof Chaman Lal said, “I have no sympathy with Komal Singh. He is psychologically sick. We have to think about reformative justice,” and recommended for sending him on a long forced leave. DP Randhawa also called for lesser punishment and claimed that he was an intelligent person. Prof Shelley Walia called for his rehabilitation. 

But Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover said, “How will we ensure safety of women students? He couldn’t be allowed to remain in touch with women students. Without students there is no university. Despite being guilty in two cases, a third complaint is pending against him.” He added that after his first complaint, he was sent to the University School of Open Learning (USOL) so that he could rehabilitate but he didn’t. The USOL is a correspondence studies department. 

“He forced me to send him back to the public administration department. Then second incident took place. Who pays for his family? They are taxpayers and their wards are being molested,” said Prof Grover. 

Senator Prof Navdeep Goyal, who is also chairperson of physics department, called for action. “As per the Sexual Harassment Act, the employer has to act in 60 days. There is no need to violate it further. The Syndicate has recommended twice for major penalty against him,” he said. 

IS Chadha and VK Sibal also called for major penalty, which is removal from service. “What kind of message will we give to the outside world?” said Sibal. 

President of the Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) Prof Rajesh Gill said, “He (Komal Singh) is mentally sick and has been indulging in verbal abuse. I agree with Ranga that inquiry report should be discussed. An appropriate action as per the act should be taken.” 

Prof Rajat Sandhir, former PUTA president, said he had encountered a case where Komal Singh was dragging a girl student in the car. “We must accept the report. Society is looking at us. The girl students are looking at us. I am fine with sending him on forced leave of three years for rehabilitation,” he said. 

Dean of University Instructions Prof Meenakshi Malhotra said, “Such cases should be taken seriously. We are sending message that our children are not safe.” 

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. 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 called 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 the Panjab University Committee against Sexual Harassment (PUCASH) held him guilty, the Syndicate on May 28, 2017 decided to remove him from service which however doesn’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. The 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 again recommended for his removal from service and condemned him for writing to chancellor too. 

In the fourth case, he entered into a class in inebriated condition and misbehaved with women students in the public administration department. The students later lodged the case. It is pending with the PUCASH.