Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved a proposal for immediate suspension of a Delhi Government-run medical college Assistant Professor facing charges of sexual harassment.
In a note, Saxena said he has considered the proposal for suspension of the assistant professor and to initiate major disciplinary proceedings against him. He said the “shocking incident of sexual harassment" took place in a medical college, so a mere transfer of the accused, as recommended by the internal complaints committee of the medical college, will not mitigate the "intimidating atmosphere" for the students.
"I approve the proposal of placing the officer under suspension with immediate effect, under Rule 10 of the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965," the LG said and pointed the alleged act of the accused involved "moral turpitude".
The L-G also advised the department concerned to resubmit the proposal for initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the accused with due recommendations of the National Capital Civil Services Authority (NCCSA) as the Delhi chief minister, who is the chairman of the panel, is in judicial custody.
The NCCSA is the body that deals with transfers and postings of officers. It is headed by the chief minister and comprises the chief secretary and a member secretary. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in connection with a money laundering case linked to now scrapped excise policy of his government, is in judicial custody till April 15.
The alleged incident took place on January 31 where the student levelled allegations against her professor of sexual harassment during a viva examination. An FIR under sections 354A (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against the accused. The accused was subsequently apprehended in the matter.
The Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena has hit back on Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj over his demand for removing the Principal of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College where a professor allegedly sexually harassed a 22-year-old MBBS student, saying that the Principal of the college couldn’t be removed due to Bhardwaj’s inaction,
Adding fuel to fire in the tussle between the Centre appointed LG and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Saxena accused Bhardwaj for “crying foul” over the alleged sexual harassment case and demanding the removal of its Principal, claiming that “the file for his transfer has been held up for nearly 45 days by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal himself.”
In a communication to LG, Bharadwaj alleged that chief secretary (CS) Naresh Kumar, in a note to him, “defended” the delay in taking action against the accused and those who tried to shield him.
