Pavitra suicide case: Suspension of college principal revoked

The suspension of the principal of Bhim Rao Ambedkar College of Delhi University G K Arora, who was accused of sexual harrassment of a former employee, has been revoked, the College Governing Body head claimed today.
"The Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi, has approved the recommendation of the undersigned for revocation of your suspension. You are requested to resume the duties as Principal of Bhim Rao Ambedkar College in place of acting Principal Dr R B Solanki with immediate effect," the letter from the Governing Body Chairman Ashok K Prasad sent to Arora on July 24 said.
Following the communication from Prasad, Arora today reached the college to resume his duties but had to face protests by scores of teachers against the revocation of his suspension citing the Chairman's letter to be "procedural violation".

"Chairman of the Governing Body (GB) has no power to recommend revocation of suspension of an employee without specific resolution of the Governing Body to that effect," Executive Council member Abha Dev Habib said in a letter to the VC.
"The VC has no right to approve the so-called recommendation of the GB Chairman without ascertaining this as per a resolution of the GB in a properly-convened meeting. The VC has no right to intervene directly in the college," she said.
Pavitra Bhardwaj, 40, was a former Ambedkar College lab attendant. On September 30, she had set herself ablaze outside the Delhi Chief Minister's office and succumbed later.

She had alleged sexual harassment by Arora who has dismissed the charges.
Arora was suspended on October 11 by the DU administration till the completion of a probe in the case by a committee headed by retired Additional District Judge B L Garg. The committe had given a clean chit to Arora in its probe report in April this year.