DU principal suspended for ‘harassment’ calls charges ‘false’, ‘politically motivated’

New Delhi: The principal of a college in Delhi has been suspended after a faculty member accused him of harassment, which he termed “false, fabricated, politically motivated, and devoid of merit”.

Professor Rasal Singh, principal of Ramanujan College affiliated with the University of Delhi, said that he was targeted for not considering the faculty member’s application for promotion.

While confirming the action against Professor Rasal Singh, University of Delhi Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh refused to expand on the ground for the suspension.

The charges levelled on March 13 by the faculty member include allegations of harassment and misconduct. The principal was suspended on September 18.

Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh told NDTV that ‘I have accepted the governing body's recommendation because this concerns the safety of our daughters’.

Following the action against him in the wake of investigation by a fact-finding committee, examined by a three-member governing body, Professor Singh has written to the Grievance Cell in the Prime Minister's Office.

In his letter Professor Rasal Singh called the complaint ‘a coordinated attempt with her colleagues to frame and dislodge me’, adding that it was ‘retaliatory’ which was ‘filed immediately after the faculty member’s promotion was not considered due to incomplete documentation’.

In his letter to the PMO, the principal said he was facing “serious mental, emotional and professional distress” due to the charges levelled against him.

He also alleged political influence, saying he was pressured to grant the promotion, failing which he was “threatened to be framed in a sexual harassment case”.

He claimed the allegations were not initially referred to the internal complaints committee as mandated under UGC rules and the PoSH Act, claiming he faced “undue political pressure to resign from my position under the threat of termination/suspension”.

“I have never engaged in any misconduct, sexual or otherwise, towards any colleague or individual,” the principal said, requesting that the “conspiratorial, manipulated, and unsubstantiated allegations filed against me be dismissed in their entirety”.

He also sought “necessary protection from malicious and politically-motivated victimisation”.

With inputs from PTI and NDTV