What the court said

Chandigarh, June 18

The controversy over the assistant professor’s Germany visit for attending a conference stands resolved – at least for the time being. Taking up Renu Bala’s plea, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has allowed her to attend the programme from June 15 to July 7. She had moved the court against MCM DAV College Principal’s decision to permit her to go Germany only till June 23.

In her petition placed before Justice Raj Shekhar Attri’s Bench, Renu Bala, through counsel Nitin Jain, had submitted that she was serving as an assistant  professor since July 2015 and had been invited by the University of Applied Sciences, FH, Munster, Germany, from June 15 to July 7 for a project.

Her counsel had added that the tickets had already been supplied by the university to the petitioner and she had also been issued a visa. However, the college Principal, vide a letter dated May 15, had permitted her to go Germany only till June 23, even though the college was closed for the summer vacation till July 7. Taking up the matter, Justice Attri asserted that the court was of the view that the petitioner was required to be allowed to join the conference in accordance with the programme up to July 7 and she would join her duties the next day.

“As such, the petitioner is allowed to attend the programme/conference up to July 7. The visit of the petitioner to Germany beyond the period of June 23 till July 7 shall be subject to the outcome of the instant petition,” Justice Attri concluded.