HC halts ‘forced transfer' of professor couple over Ambedkar Jayanti row
Dehradun: Uttarakhand high court has ordered a stay on the transfer of a professor couple from Uttarkashi Degree College to Pithoragarh Degree College, nearly 500km from their current posting, and paused the departmental investigation against them.
Dr Ramesh Singh and his wife Dr Vinita Singh, both associate professors at the same college, had filed a petition in the court saying Uttarkashi Degree College took retaliatory action against them for opposing the college's decision to change the date of
Ambedkar Jayanti
celebrations at the institute.
They said the higher education department had instructed colleges to remain open and celebrate Dr B R Ambedkar's birth anniversary on April 14.
But acting principal Madhu Thapliyal rescheduled the celebration to April 12. Following the couple's objection, Thapliyal placed Singh on extended leave, citing "false sexual harassment allegations from two years ago". The petition said no complaint or FIR had ever been filed in the matter.
Subsequently, on April 16, the deputy secretary of the higher education department (name) transferred both professors to Pithoragarh Degree College.
Singh again approached the court, which stayed the transfer order and fixed June 11 for the next hearing.
During the hearing on Friday, the bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mahra made oral remarks criticising the conduct of the deputy secretary and the investigating officer. The court said the investigator should not act like a judge.
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