The Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad, has terminated the services of a professor after an internal inquiry into allegations of sexual and mental harassment by a female faculty member.
A six-member Internal Inquiry Committee report led to the termination of Professor S D Panchal, director of the School of Engineering and Technology, on Wednesday.
His colleague had filed a complaint against him in August with “documentary evidence, including messages, e-mails and chats”.
“Based on the complaint, the committee conducted a detailed inquiry, including the hearing of over 30 witnesses, and submitted its findings which were sent to both parties. As per the findings, the executive authority under the Board of Governors agreed with the report, and looking at the severity of the case, the university terminated the services of Prof S D Panchal,” GTU Registrar K N Kher told The Indian Express.
Kher said that this is the first case of sexual harassment against a faculty member at GTU, and the first termination. However, it was revealed that 2-3 anonymous complaints were filed in the same case before a formal complaint was filed by the female faculty member who was working under him.
He was her supervisor when she was undertaking research for her PhD. The complainant alleged that Panchal would harass her during her research and when she did not heed his demands, the harassment aggravated and led to mental distress. Panchal would allegedly threaten to get her research cancelled. After the completion of her PhD, she filed the complaint.
Panchal had also filed an appeal with the appellate committee. Authorities said that a four-member appellate committee was approached in November last year within 30 days of the ICC report. Following the hearing, the appellate committee too agreed with the ICC report.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
