HC may hear pleas of SVNIT faculties today

SURAT: The Gujarat high court on Thursday is likely to hear petitions of two associate professors of Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT) accused in sexual harassment case, seeking stay on their termination from the institute.
The two professors Vivekanand Mishra and Ranjit Roy had approached the high court in February last week seeking stay on their dismissal from SVNIT after the institute’s internal complaint committee (ICC) found them guilty on charges of sexual harassment of girl students.
However, the HC had granted stay only on the institute’s order asking the two faculties to vacate their residential quarters on SVNIT campus.
The accused faculties, Mishra and Roy had again filed petitions in March 4 demanding stay on their dismissal after the board of governors at SVNIT approved their termination.
“Before SVNIT filed a caveat, the two faculties had approached high court. However, the court will hear SVNIT’s version during the hearing on Thursday,” said P D Porey, director, SVNIT.
“I have challenged the decision of my dismissal and approached the High Court. As the matter is in court I would not like to comment further,” said Mishra, who was associate professor of electronics and communication engineering and in-charge dean of research.
Mishra and Roy were terminated as associate professors from SVNIT after they were found guilty of sexually harassing their research students. This was subsequent to approval by institute's board of governors (BoG) on March 4.
Roy, associate professor of electrical engineering and chief warden and Mishra were under suspension since February 12 after a preliminary report of ICC found them guilty of sexual harassment.