HC asks why JNU V-C cannot suspend Johri
NEWDELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned the vice-chancellor (VC) for not suspending a professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) against whom eight FIRS of sexual harassment have been filed.
Justice Rajiv Shakdher asked the counsel for JNU if the V-C was so helpless that he could not take action and suspend Prof Atul Kumar Johri, who is out on bail after being arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting female students at the university.
“Are you saying that the vicechancellor has no power? Is he is so helpless that he cannot take any action against the professor on the basis of the complaints? There is prima facie a case against the professor.
“Don’t you think that the professor should stay out of the campus till the inquiry is conducted even by the Internal Complaints Committee,” the court asked the counsel for JNU.
The court’s query came when it was informed that Prof Johri cannot be suspended just on the basis of the FIR.
The court was hearing a plea filed by eight female students who sought the suspension of Prof Johri and restraining him from entering the university’s campus. The plea had sought a safe and secure environment for the students as Johri has been
still taking classes in the varsity.
Appearing for the students, senior advocate Vrinda Grover, submitted that the FIRS have been registered against the professor, he has been arrested and out on bail, but he is still continuing on the campus.
“Several representations have been made to the varsity but no action has been taken against the professor. There are eight FIRS of sexual abuse. The head of the institution should step in. He cannot take a step back and say he would not do anything,” she said.
Opposing this contention, the counsel for JNU said that the students have not registered any complaint against the professor at the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and hence the professor cannot be suspended on
the basis of mere FIR.
However, the single-judge bench said that the representations should be treated as complaints so that action can be initiated against Johri.
It also directed the Investigating Officer (IO) of the Delhi Police to show the FIRS and the statements of the students recorded by the Magistrate under section 164 CRPC to the vice-chancellor on Friday at 3 PM for his perusal.
The court also issued notices to JNU, Delhi Police and professor Johri on the plea which also sought the removal of the professor from the post of warden at the Chandrabhaga hostel in JNU. It directed the Delhi police to file a status report in this regard and fixed the next date of hearing to May 2.