SC dismisses sexual harassment case against VC, but with rider
What's the story
The Supreme Court has dismissed a sexual harassment case against Nirmal Kanti Chakrabarti, Vice-Chancellor of West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences. The court, however, directed that the judgment be included in Chakrabarti's resume. "In this view of the matter, we direct that the incidents of alleged sexual harassment on part of respondent no.1 may be forgiven but allowed to haunt the wrongdoer forever," said a bench comprising Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B Varale.
Case dismissal
Survivor filed complaint months after alleged harassment
The court dismissed a petition filed by a faculty member against Chakrabarti. The bench observed that the survivor had filed her complaint on December 26, 2023, months after the alleged harassment in April. The Local Complaint Committee had rejected her complaint as "time-barred," noting she approached them beyond the prescribed six-month limit.
Allegations outlined
Allegations of sexual harassment against Chakrabarti
The faculty member alleged that Chakrabarti, who became VC in July 2019, called her to his office on September 8. He allegedly insisted she join him for dinner and touched her hand inappropriately. In October 2019, he allegedly demanded sexual favors and threatened her career if she declined his proposals. The judgment also mentioned an incident in April 2023 where Chakrabarti asked the faculty member to join him on a trip to a resort.
Career impact
Promotion put on hold amid probes into allegations
The faculty member's promotion was put on hold till April 2, 2022. She was later removed as Director of the Centre of Financial, Regulatory and Governance Studies on August 29, 2023. The removal came amid probes into allegations of misutilization of grants received from the University Grants Commission and the National Foundation of Corporate Governance.
Judgment details
Court's ruling on faculty member's removal
The court ruled that the faculty member's removal was not an act of sexual harassment. It was based on reports from an independent body, the National Foundation of Corporate Governance. The judgment also directed that the details of alleged misconduct be recorded in Chakrabarti's resume, and compliance with this order should be strictly ensured by him personally.