Chennai: A research scholar, working as ‘parota master’ in a restaurant following his suspension by Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, for leading an agitation by girl students against sexual harassment allegedly by an assistant professor of the university, got temporary relief with the Madras high court staying his suspension.
Passing interim orders on a petition by Mohamed Khan, a research scholar (Ph.D Senior Research Fellow) in the Department of Criminology-History at the University, Justice D. Harparanthaman said, “I am of the view that the FIR itself has to be viewed with suspicion. Both the suspension order and the show cause notice are solely based on FIR. Hence, I am of the view that both the suspension order and the show cause notice are liable to be stayed. Accordingly, there shall be an order of interim stay”.
According to Mohamed Khan, he sought details of fund transaction of an organisation called SASCV and also illegal absorption of assistant professors in the university, through RTI. This led to filing of a false complaint with police against him by an assistant professor Jai Shankar in the Criminology department, .
Jai Shankar complained that on August 12, 2015, the petitioner led PG girl students in an agitation against one Vinoth Vincent Rajesh, an assistant professor, alleging he was involved in sexual harassment. Jai Shankar also alleged that on September 1, 2015 while he was with three other assistant professors in his chamber, the petitioner questioned him how he supported Vinoth Vincent Rajesh and abused him.
Prabhu Raja Durai, counsel, submitted the impugned suspension order had caused serious prejudice to the petitioner’s Ph.D programme, besides mental agony to him.
