DR. KESHAB CHANDRA PANDA Vs. VICE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition challenges the order dated 19.4.2003 passed by the Registrar, Sambalpur University vide Annexure-8, placing the petitioner under suspension, the complaint made by one Mr. J.M. Pani to the Vice-Chancellor, Sambalpur University vide Annexure-1 and the order of enquiry dated 31.3.2003 vide Annexure-9.

(2.) Shorn of details, the case of the petitioner was that he was appointed as Lecturer in Physics in Sambalpur University (in short, "University") in September, 1979. He was promoted to the post of Reader in the year 1993. There was no blemish in his service career. He made significant contributions towards the advancement of knowledge in Nuclear Physics. He had guided several junior research students. Miss Alekhika Pani was appointed as Junior Research Fellow on 14.8.2002 by the Vice-Chancellor of the University. She joined in the Post Graduate Department of Physics of the University as a Junior Research Fellow on 16.8.200 Miss Pani was not sincere. She was cautioned time and again to be sincere with her research work. As a project leader, it was the bounden duty of the petitioner to see, remind, reprimand the persons working in the project in order to have a good reputation of the project work. She submitted her resignation on 30.9.2002, but the same was not accepted with a hope that she will improve. All the efforts made by the petitioner ended in a fiasco. Finally she submitted her resignation on 24.2003, which was accepted on 28.2003.

(3.) While the matter stood thus, he received a letter on 7.4.2003 from Professor P.K. Mohapatra, Convenor of Enquiry Committee to remain present on 10.4.2003 at 9.30 a.m. in the Syndicate Hall of the University in order to respond to the charges made against him by Mr. J.M. Pani of Sambalpur. The complainant alleged that his daughter, Miss Alekhika Pani, enrolled as a research scholar under the petitioner in a project namely, "Studies in Nuclear Reaction". She never thought that her career would come to an abrupt end for no fault of her. She had a brilliant academic record in Physics and great enthusiasm in fundament research. Her ordeal started after joining the project. The petitioner as a guide talked with regard to unrelated work of the research with his daughter, who was making amorous advances in talks and gestures. He used to comment about her dress and look. His lasciviousness and mischief was visible. His lewd remarks and lecherous looks became a routine event. A national symposium on nuclear physics was to be held in Chennai from 26th December to 30th December, 2002. Around second week of December, 2002, his daughter registered for the said national symposium as asked by her guide. Days before the event, the petitioner told that her railway ticket and accommodation had been taken care of and they would stay together. She was shocked. She had not gone to Chennai. Thereafter the petitioner became very irritable and uncooperative with his daughter. The petitioner started troubling her. The petitioner made a second effort in February, 2003 when her "Project Definition" was to be done at IUC/DAEI, Calcutta Centre. Just two days before the event, i.e., 16th February, 2003, she was informed about the programme and told that they would stay together, as there was no time for making arrangements for accommodation. His daughter vehemently protested. The petitioner told that to earn a Ph.D. degree, she had to bear all this and even if she was unwilling and tried to divulge anything she will be ruined. The petitioner warned his daughter of the consequences of going against him. The petitioner often talked of his links with Chancellor's Office and Minister of Higher Education. The facts had been narrated by his daughter to him. He made the complaint on 26.2003 before the Vice-Chancellor and requested the later to punish the guilty.