ANIRUDDHA KUMAR Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mrs. R S Chowdhury, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. S C Keyal, learned Standing counsel, Assam University as well as Ms. J R Mazumdar, learned counsel appearing on behalf of Dr. P Agarwal, learned Standing counsel, UGC for the respondents.

(2.) The petitioner, by way of this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, challenges the continuation and repeated extension of his suspension during the pendency of the departmental proceeding initiated against him on the charges, inter - alia, sexual harassment.

(3.) The brief facts of the case are that while the petitioner was serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hindi, Assam University in the Diphu campus, was placed under suspension on 18/12/2024 pending departmental proceeding for alleged sexual harassment on workplace. Within the initial period of 90 days, i.e., on 12/2/2025, the memorandum of charges was issued to the petitioner, which was received by him on 21/2/2025. The suspension of the petitioner was thereafter extended on 10/3/2025 before the expiry of the 90 day period of his suspension.