PUCASH seeks MHRD help to take final call

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 14

The Panjab University Committee against Sexual Harassment (PUCASH) seeks authorisation from the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) before deciding on the sexual harassment case against Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover. The Syndicate will now take up the issue in its August 20 meeting. The issue now has been pending for over two years.

PUCASH, in its meeting on August 7 this year, pointed out that that the Vice-President’s office in its letter dated June 14 to the MHRD has said “in pursuance of the directive from the National Commission for Women (NCW), the MHRD should consider constituting a committee specifically to look into all aspects of this matter, it may do so” and has added that “the report of the said committee can be presented through the MHRD to the competent authority of the university”.

Later, Registrar Col GS Chadha (retd) wrote to the MHRD regarding it on July 10 but PUCASH said there was no communication on forming the new committee or enjoining the existing PUCASH committee to complete the inquiry.

PUCASH said, “...the final decision regarding the committee which will look into the matter depends on the directions of the MHRD for which direction is not available on the file enjoining the existing PUCASH to proceed further with this matter.” It added, “...PUCASH feels constrained to proceed further in the matter for want of specific authorisation by the MHRD.”

On July 23, the Syndicate had extended the term of existing PUCASH for two months to decide this case though a new committee, which has already been selected and was to take charge from August 1.