JUTA meets VC, levels allegations against CASH committee, seeks CBI investigation

Not satisfied by the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Investigation Team, SIT, constituted to probe the cause of the suicide by the Jammu University’s Associate Professor namely Chandra Shekhar, the Jammu University Teachers Association, JUTA, demanded the CBI probe in the case.

The CBI probe started gaining momentum after JUTA headed by Prof Pankaj Shrivastva held a silent protest in the varsity’s premises and later submitted their memorandum to the Vice Chancellor of the varsity. The JUTA had also leveled allegations against the JU’S CASH committee which gave findings against the deceased Associate Professor in the short span i.e. two days of the lodging of the complaint of sexual harassment and subsequently followed by his suspension.

“The CASH committee gave its finding without serving the opportunity of being heard to the deceased. Further, it has come to our notice that a SIT team comprised of SHO Gandhi Nagar, a 2004 Batch of Armed police Sub-Inspector, has been constituted, but we demand CBI probe in the case”, said a JUTA member.

Pertinently, a 42-year-old Associate Professor on Wednesday allegedly died by suicide at his office room in the University of Jammu within minutes after he was placed under suspension over allegations of sexual harassment by some female students. It is not clear till now what exactly were the allegations and number of victims of alleged sexual harassment. It is also not clear that to whom the complaint was addressed and how the complaint was disposed off so quickly without concurrence of all the CASH committee members.

According to reports, the deceased, Chandra Shekhar, was a native of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. He was teaching at the university since 2007-08. He was married and had been staying with his family in official quarters on the campus.

Quoting JU’s Dean Students Welfare (DSW) Prof Prakash Anthal reports said that Shekhar was placed under suspension by a CASH inquiry committee looking into a complaint filed by some female students against him a few days ago.

“When Shekhar came to know about his suspension, he locked himself in a room around 4 p.m. and was found hanging from the ceiling fan,” reports quoted Anthal as having said.

There is a strong resentment among the JU fraternity that Registrar, HoD and CASH committee Presiding Officer are still continuing to their respective posts whereas VC should have removed them by now and post some fresh non controversial faces in their place.