Higher Education Dept probes allegations

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 9

As a woman project fellow resigned after levelling allegations of harassment, the Higher Education Department is inquiring into the allegations.

The project fellow joined at Post Graduate Government College (PGGC), Sector 11, here, in August 2016. Till December 2016, she received her fellowship.

However, in February 2017, the UGC in-charge of the college was transferred and Prof Rajeev Bhandari was appointed. She alleged that he refused to sign the same when she went with a sanction form and attendance record of two months.

She claimed that she again visited the professor in April but in vain.

In May, she approached the then Principal about her four-month pending fellowship who asked her to submit some documents. But nothing happened. Then in June 2017, she was called to the office of the principal. The professor was also present there.

She alleged that they misbehaved and passed lewd comments, in her complaint dated September 29.

In July, she told the whole story to her principal investigator as he was away to Australia earlier. He suggested her to quit otherwise harassment would not stop, she claimed.

“Now after my resignation, I have submitted all seven-month fellowship sanction forms and attendance records verified by the principal investigator. Till date I do not receive payment from the college,” she said in her complaint dated September 29.

Prof Bhandari said, “I can’t comment on the complaint as it is being looked into. My service rules do not allow me to make any comment.”

The complainant said she was yet to get any fellowship.

However, the then principal of the college could not be contacted.