Review panel to assess 5-yr performance at GNLU

Earlier, the HC had slammed GNLU for failing to act on complaints of sexual harassment, especially after the allegations were validated by an independent fact-finding committee headed by retired Justice Harsha Devani, and had directed its GC to act on the allegations.

Submitting the developments that have taken place at GNLU since the HC’s last order, Advocate General Kamal Trivedi informed the bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee that the GC met on March 23 and the fact-finding report was circulated among its members.

The GC noted that it is “extremely concerned about the welfare of the students and therefore, the university should take all possible measures to create a safe and secure environment… so that they should not been inhibited to come forward with such experiences”, Trivedi said.

To this effect, it was resolved by the GC to constitute a high-level review committee to assess GNLU’s performance in the last five years, he added.

The GC also resolved to form a sub-committee comprising Gujarat government pleader and Additional Advocate General Manisha Lavkumar Shah and HC senior advocate Asim Pandya to ensure “immediate corrective measures” are taken to reconstitute GNLU’s internal committee, which should be “sensible, responsible and effective” in ensuring swift response to allegations of sexual harassment against any student…”

The measure comes after Justice Devani’s committee report observed that most students were unaware of the existence of an internal complaints committee at GNLU. Shah, Pandya and Venkataramani are members of the GNLU GC.

Reports of both the review committee and the sub-committee will be placed before the executive council of GNLU, which in turn will suggest recommendations, if any, and place the same before the GC, the HC was told. Further, the court was informed that GC has nominated its member, HC advocate Dharmishtha Raval, “to coordinate” with both the committees.

Meanwhile, CJ Agarwal said on Thursday, “There were allegations against the director as well. The inaction of the director was writ large on the face of the record…” He reiterated that “the way the registrar has behaved shows he was not supposed to do this”.

Addressing Trivedi, CJ Agarwal said, “Whatever is done by the registrar, if it was not within the knowledge of the director then he was supposed to take action and if it was in his knowledge, he was supposed to respond.”

Trivedi assured the court that GNLU Director S Shanthakumar’s response to the allegations against him is expected within 15 days, if not sooner, following which a GC meeting will be convened, and depending on the director’s response, it will be decided if a response is required from the incumbent registrar.

He further said that the process to fill up the vacant post of GNLU registrar has been initiated as the incumbent – assistant professor Jagadeesh Chandra TG – has been working as registrar in charge since March 12, 2019. Trivedi said an advertisement for the same is expected to be published in the media in the next couple of days.

The HC, which will hear the matter next on April 29, directed that an action taken report be submitted by then. It also requested the GC to convene a meeting to consider the response of the director before April 29.