PU Syndicate member accuses VC of misbehaviour

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 20

Panjab University Syndicate member and Fellow Rajesh Gill has alleged misbehaviour by Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover while she visited his office to congratulate him on getting a three-year extension.

A copy of the complaint was tabled at the Syndicate meeting today. The meeting was chaired by the VC, in which no discussion was held on the complaint.

In the complaint submitted to the Vice-President and Chancellor of the university, M Hamid Ansari, on April 15, the Fellow stated that she visited the VC's office at 3.30 pm to congratulate him on getting an extension. After waiting for 20 minutes, Grover came out of his office and she wished him "all the best". He then allegedly winked and started shouting that the best would happen only "if you stop fanning problems in the Syndicate and Senate". He then started criticising members of the Syndicate and Senate for creating hurdles. She also mentioned that during the recent visit of a NAAC team, the VC "commented" on Syndicate and Senate members, which was pointed out in the last meeting.

Rajesh Gill said she was surprised that the complaint submitted to the Chancellor about the misbehaviour had been referred to the sexual harassment committee by the VC. In front of 20 officials in his office, he used foul language. She had demanded that an independent inquiry be conducted by officials from outside the university. She said after the complaint, the grievance cell had called a meeting but as she was out of station, she could not attend it.
The VC referred the complaint to the Panjab University Committee Against Sexual Harassment after the inquiry by the grievance cell.
The VC stated that a copy of the complaint had been forwarded to the Chancellor as desired by her. The letter was sent to the statutory committee of the PU and its deliberations had also been attached with her letter. The matter had been referred to the panel on sexual harassment for a follow-up. In fact, the Dean, Students Welfare, and several others were witness to the entire episode, but as there were no cameras in the VC's office, he could not prove the facts. "It is my sexual harassment as I have been accused of doing acts which are demeaning of me,” he said.