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2009 Supreme(Del) 676

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE A.K. SIKRI THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE V.K.JAIN, JJ.
Prof. Bidyug Chakraborty – Petitioners
VERSUS
Delhi University & Ors. – Respondent
W.P.(C) No.8226/2007
Decided on: 29th May, 2009.

Advocates appeared:
Ms. Kiran Suri, Adv. with Mr. Deepak Bhattacharya and Mr. Aparna Bhat, Adv.
Rajesh Baneti, Advocate with Mr. Tarun Walia, Advocate for respondents No. 4 to 8; Mr. Manish Srivastava with Mr. Ashish Verma, Advocate for respondent No. 9.

Headnote:Constitution of India, 1950 .

       Articles 14, 16 and 311 - Delhi University Ordinance XV-D Annexures/appendices to the inquiry report were not supplied to the petitioner - Delinquent is given an opportunity to make representation which is to be considered by the Disciplinary Authority before recording its findings - If such an obligation is not read into the Ordinance, it may be liable to be struck down, being violative of the principles of natural justice - No opportunity was given to the petitioner for verbal cross examination of the complainant - Violation of principles of natural justice - Inquiry conducted without giving him an opportunity to produce witnesses in his defence - Disciplinary action cannot be sustained - Action taken against the petitioner, struck down.

       

JUDGMENT

V.K.Jain, J.

1. The petitioner who was Head of Department of Political Science in Delhi University, was appointed as Honorary Director of Gandhi Bhawan for a period of two years w.e.f. 01.08.2006. Dr. Anamika Sharma vide her complaint dated 04.04.2007, to the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University alleged sexual harassment by the petitioner. In terms of ordinance XV D of the University, 0the University had constituted committees including the Apex Complaint Committee to deal with the complaints of sexual harassments. Respondent No. 3 Dr. Anamika Sharma made a complaint to the Vice Chancellor of the University as well as to the Apex Committee, complaining of sexual harassment by the petitioner. Similar complaint was also sent by Anamika Sharma, to the Apex Committee. The Apex Committee, after perusal of the complaint, decided that prima facie a case of sexual harassment was made out and set up an Enquiry Committee to investigate the case. The petitioner submitted to the jurisdiction of the committee, which submitted its report, holding the petitioner guilty of the charges of sexual harassment, as listed in the charge sheet given to him by the committee. The committee recommended the following disciplinary actions against the petitioner:

1. A letter of warning should be issued to him.

2. He should be asked to step down from the Directorship of Gandhi Bhawan.

3. He should be debarred from all administrative posts and supervisory duties in the University for a period of three years.

2. Vide two separate memorandums, both dated October 16, 2007, the executive council of the University, accepting the recommendations made by the committee, warned the petitioner and also debarred from holding any administrative post in the university for a period of three years from the date of the memorandum. The petitioner has, in this writ petition sought quashing of both these memorandum as well as the report of the committee. Since the university, vide another notification dated 15.10.2007, appointed one Professor Achin Vanaik as Head of Department of Political Science and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, the petitioner has also sought quashing of that notification. He is also seeking quashing of ordinance XV-D of Delhi University on the ground that it is violative of Article(s) 14, 16 and 311 of the Constitution as it gives unfettered, unguided and arbitrary powers to the Enquiry committee and does not contain sufficient safeguards for the person who is accused of sexual harassment and thus violates the principles of natural justice.

3. Ordinance XV-D, to the extent it is relevant provides as under: Scope of the Ordinance : This Ordinance shall be applicable to all complaints of sexual harassment made:

(i) By a member of the University against any other member of the University irrespective of whether the harassment is alleged to have taken place within or outside the campus.

(ii) By a resident against a member of the University or by a member against a resident irrespective of whether the sexual harassment is alleged to have taken place within or outside the campus.

(iii) By an outsider against a member of the university or by a member of the University against an outsider if the sexual harassment is alleged to have taken place within the campus.

(iv) by a member of the university, against an outsider if the sexual harassment is alleged to have taken place outside the campus. In such cases the Committee shall recommend that the University college authorities initiate action by making a complaint with the appropriate authority. Further the committee will actively assist and provide available resources to the complainant in pursuing the complaint.

Complaint Mechanism: Implementation of the University policy against sexual harassment shall be achieved through:

(i) The Apex Complaints Committee, which shall be an apex regulatory and appellate body of the University of Delhi for redressal and resolution of complaints.









































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