The DUTA welcomes the decision of the Metropolitan magistrate to chargesheet and summon the Principal of B R Ambedkar College, Dr G.K. Arora, accused of sexually harassing and abetting the suicide of a former Lab Assistant of the College, Smt Pavita Bhardwaj.
Following the tragic self-immolation by Smt Bhardwaj in front of the Delhi Secretariat in September, 2013, and her clear indictment of Dr G.K.Arora in her dying declaration and suicide note, there was a wave of shock and outrage in civil society. Widespread protests by the University Community and Women’s Groups continued for more than a month, and the DUTA, DUCKU and DUSU demanded his immediate suspension and arrest under Section 306.
Under the continuous pressure of the DUTA and DUCKU, the Governing Body of B.R.Ambedkar College suspended Dr Arora at the end of October, 2013. However, instead of setting up an independent enquiry under Ordinance XVIII of Delhi University, the GB chose to wait for the report of the Enquiry set up by the Delhi Government.
The Police prevarication and inaction violated all provisions of the law in such cases. That they eventually filed a closure report came as no surprise as it was clear by then that powerful vested interests had worked overtime to protect him. Shockingly, the Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University, Prof Dinesh Singh, who had all along been complicit in the denial of justice to a beleaguered Pavitra Bhardwaj, revoked the suspension of Dr. Arora in July 2014, and allowed him to rejoin as Principal without even a fig leaf of a Governing Body meeting to consider the matter . This was in violation of Ordinance XVIII which gives only the Governing Body the right to revoke the suspension, and also in violation of the orders of the Hon’ble High Court on 7.7.2014, that directed the entire matter to be placed before the GB within six weeks.
It is a matter of great satisfaction and relief that the Metropolitan Magistrate rejected the closure report filed by Delhi Police and has ordered a trial in which Dr Arora is summoned as an accused. This development has restored to some extent the faith of the University community in the system of justice.
The DUTA demands that the GK Arora immediately be removed from the office of Principal that he has illegally occupied, since his suspension has not been revoked by the Governing Body. Moreover, after being charge-sheeted and summoned in a criminal case, he has no right to continue to function as the Head of an educational institution.
Leave a Reply