123 Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday overturned a single-judge order that asked for a fresh workplace harassment probe against NUJS vice-chancellor Nirmal Kanti Chakraborti by a professor. The complaint was rejected by a probe panel (Local Complaints Committee) because it was lodged beyond the statutory three-month deadline. The HC single bench, however, asked the probe panel to investigate the complaint again. The VC moved before an HC division bench challenging the single-bench order.
On Tuesday, an HC division bench of Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Prasenjit Biswas set aside the single-bench order and restored the panel findings. It said, "Since the last incident of the sexual harassment is alleged in the complaint to have taken place in Apr 2023 and admittedly the complaint was filed on Dec 26 2023, much beyond the normal period of limitation or for argument's sake if the period is extended. Therefore, there is no infirmity in the decision of the LCC in dismissing the said complaint."
The HC also did not find merit in allegations that the VC could have manipulated college executive council to act against the professor. It said the VC is only a member of the council, which has "notable academicians and jurists, including the judges of the SC and HC".
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