HC stays suspension of prof over FB post, raps MDU

ROHTAK: The Punjab and Haryana high court has stayed the suspension of associate professor Ashwani Dhingra of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, rapping the university for taking such a harsh action against him over a Facebook post and thus violating his freedom of speech and expression.

“This case is a disturbing example of intolerance of authorities in university to smother debate on Facebook between petitioner and persons in his social group,” the court said in its order.

Dhingra was suspended on March 31 by the executive council of MDU, which stated that he had defamed the university by a writing a post on his personal Facebook account.

In his post, Dhingra had questioned the university’s reluctance in accepting the joining of a finance officer appointed by the state government for MDU.

“Everyone knows that the joining may expose many irregularities. In the past, MDU has wasted funds on unfruitful activities,” he wrote.

Two weeks after the post, Dhingra received explanation notice from university asking why it should not take action against him for defaming MDU. After Dhingra filed his reply, MDU executive council went ahead with his suspension terming his reply unsatisfactory.

Staying the suspension, the HC said the issue was of freedom of speech, which a university should represent.

It asked MDU to not issue a chargesheet against Dhingra without court’s permission. The court said it will also consider whether costs like damages and litigation expenses borne by Dhingra be saddled on university for violating his rights guaranteed to him by section 19 (1) of Constitution — “which are verily foundation of democracy.”

Reacting to order, Dhingra said he was happy that truth prevailed in the end.

ASHWANI DHINGRA HAD QUESTIONED VARSITY’S RELUCTANCE IN ACCEPTING JOINING OF A FINANCE OFFICER APPOINTED BY STATE GOVT FOR MDU