The Hindu : New Delhi News : AMU don challenges his suspension

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Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010
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AMU don challenges his suspension

Urvashi Sarkar

NEW DELHI: Aligarh Muslim University professor Dr. Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras who was suspended by the university authorities after being allegedly filmed indulging in homosexual activity in his accommodation on the campus has filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court challenging his suspension.

“The petition challenges three things. Namely that my suspension was on illegal grounds and that my promotion to the professor level according to the Career Advancement Scheme was denied to me. Also no action has been taken against those who entered my house and filmed me,” Dr. Siras said.

The university authorities prepared a charge sheet asking Dr. Siras to respond to it. “I submitted my response by March 6. The authorities have not got back to me yet,” he added.

AMU public relations officer Rahat Abrar said on Monday: “The authorities will study Dr. Siras' response based on which a decision will be taken either to reinstate him or institute an enquiry.”

In another development, Anjali Gopalan, executive director of Naz Foundation, which is supporting Dr. Siras filed a Right to Information application and sought certain information from the university authorities with regard to the incident.

The RTI had sought information regarding the identity of AMU employees to whom the video clip concerned was delivered, those who had recorded and delivered the video clip, copy of the video clip, reasons why Dr. Siras was asked to vacate his rented accommodation in Medical Colony, the identity of those who had allegedly expressed their desire to get Dr. Siras ousted and those who had decided to reveal the name of Dr. Siras to the media.

To the following queries the university responded “not available on record.”

With regard to other queries in the RTI, the university has assigned responsibility to the Registrar's office, Proctor, PRO and public information officers of various administrative sections of AMU to respond.

In its response, the university also attached a press release with regard to the issuing of a charge sheet to Dr. Siras. According to the release, the university was not party to any alleged sting operation nor had it commissioned a camera team for any kind of operation. “The university respects the privacy of a teacher living on its premises but it also expects everyone to live in a respectful manner giving due regard to its valued cultural ethos and to the campus sensitivity including their neighbours' concerns and to the great moral credentials that AMU has been nurturing since its inception,” the release states.

A further communication to Ms. Gopalan from the AMU Central Public Information Officer of the Proctor's office did not provide any additional information and stated with regard to most of the queries in the RTI that no information or record was available. Ms. Gopalan said: “The university has not given us any straightforward replies. We are awaiting one more response. We will wait a month and then decide on the course of action.”

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