Why principal accused of abetting suicide reinstated? DCW to DU

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Sunday asked the Delhi University (DU) to explain why it has reinstated the principal of Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, who was suspended pending the outcome of a trial for allegedly abetting the suicide of a lab assistant.

In the notice, DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal has asked DU to explain why the internal complaints committee (ICC) of the college, which had recommended suspension of the principal was reconstituted before expiry of its tenure.

Terming the reinstitution of the principal as well as reconstitution of the ICC as “extremely disturbing”, the DCW has sought a reply from the university within seven days, failing which, it warned, appropriate action as per law would be taken.

The DCW issued the notice to DU on the complaint of the husband of 35-year-old Pavitra Bhardwaj, who had set herself on fire outside the Delhi Secretariat in October 2013. She had succumbed to her injuries. In her suicide note, she had claimed that she was taking the extreme step due to physical and mental harassment by the principal and another staff of the college.

Pavitra’s husband has alleged that the principal, after his reinstatement, not only reconstituted the ICC but was also “creating undue pressure on the witnesses in the harassment case” lodged against him by the woman. The DCW said it had sought a status report from the Directorate of Higher Education of the Delhi Government on the allegations made by the husband and as per the reply received, the DU had initially suspended the accused and then reinstated him as principal early last year.

The report also stated that the ICC, which ruled against the principal, was set up for a period of three years from April 1, 2014 onwards, but was reconstituted in April 2015 by the principal after his reinstatement.