Lucknow: The disciplinary committee (DC) of Lucknow University on Tuesday suspended an assistant professor from the zoology department accused of harassing girl students. The decision came after the DC presented its interim report during an emergency executive council (EC) meeting.
Grounds for Suspension
The assistant professor was suspended on charges of attempting to sexually exploit a student by luring her with the promise of leaking examination question papers, violating teacher conduct rules, sharing confidential examination information, and admitting to these acts before the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). His actions caused serious damage to the university’s reputation, social credibility, and academic integrity through unethical and indecent conduct, as well as serious sexual and mental harassment at the workplace, in violation of ICC and UGC guidelines.
Automatic Suspension Due to Jail Custody
The suspension took effect immediately upon his incarceration, as per university rules stating that a government employee in police custody or jail for more than 24 hours is deemed suspended, pending EC approval based on DC and ICC findings.
“Our objective is not only to take immediate action but also to ensure a safe environment on campus where our daughters can pursue education fearlessly. The disciplinary committee’s interim report has found the teacher’s conduct to be against the dignity of the profession. On this basis, he has been suspended with immediate effect. Law and institutional rules are functioning in their full strength. Through this prompt action, we want to clearly convey that regardless of position or influence, no one will be allowed to compromise the dignity of female students or the sanctity of examinations,” said Vice-Chancellor Prof. Alok Kumar Rai.
Charge Sheet and Response Deadline
Along with the immediate suspension, the emergency EC approved and issued a formal charge sheet against the accused teacher. The suspended assistant professor must submit his written explanation, defense, and counter-evidence within 15 days from the charge sheet issuance date, addressed to the chairman of the disciplinary committee through the registrar.
“If he fails to submit a satisfactory response within the stipulated 15-day period, the university administration will treat it as his implicit acceptance and will be fully empowered to ensure the strictest punitive action, including termination of service, as per rules,” added Prof. Rai.
Background of the Case
The DC was constituted on May 18 during an emergency EC meeting after the ICC submitted its findings. The three-member committee, chaired by the vice-chancellor, conducted a thorough examination of viral audio clips, written and oral complaints, and facts gathered by the ICC.
According to the ICC report tabled on May 18, the assistant professor had previously harassed multiple girls. During ICC proceedings, several students from the zoology department came forward and recorded their statements on camera.
The emergency EC was convened after audio clips surfaced of the assistant professor coaxing a BSc final-year female student with promises of exam papers for ongoing examinations. The clips went viral, leading to a large sit-in protest by student organizations. The student subsequently filed a complaint with the proctor’s office and the ICC on May 15. In the audio recording, the professor was heard addressing the student as “darling.”
The controller of examinations at Lucknow University submitted a complaint regarding the leak of two zoology exam papers, along with a pen drive containing the viral audio clips, to the police, seeking an FIR. An FIR was registered at Hasanganj police station, and the assistant professor was taken into custody on May 15. On May 16, he was arrested on charges of outraging the modesty of women and under sections of the UP Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act 2024. The court remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days. Investigators seized his laptop and mobile phone for forensic examination.
