GNLU administration tried to cover up sexual harassment case: Gujarat High Court

In the suo motu case pertaining to allegations of rape and harassment of a queer student at Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), the Gujarat High Court recently ordered the General Council of the University to look into the report of the fact finding committee which revealed various lapses on part of GNLU's administration [Suo Motu PIL v. Gujarat National Law University]. .A Bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee said that there are various issues highlighted by the committee, which are of grave concern and need immediate attention of the General Council."The Committee has given findings inter alia that the GNLU authorities want to cover up such issues, which are likely to bring disrepute to the institution and that they are more concerned about the reputation of the GNLU rather than plight of the victim. The students were highly critical of the role played by the Faculty, Member of the Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) and the Female Warden," the order stated.While referring to the findings of the court-appointed fact finding committee, the Bench noted that only 8.8 per cent of the students at GNLU were aware of the existing Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and the procedure for complaints to the ICC. It further noted that only 26.5 per cent of the students were aware of the Students Welfare and Grievances Redressal Committee..This, the judges said, implied that such committees have not conducted wide awareness/sensitization programmes, or are mostly only on paper. "Taking note of the state of affairs brought by the Committee in its report submitted before us, we find that the manner in which the Registrar (In-charge) of the University has responded in his affidavit dated October 9, 2023, affirms our view that there was an overt anxious effort to dilute the whole issue by making summary inquiries at the ends of the Registrar (In-charge). The findings of the Committee about the lack of empathy by the administration of the University and effort made by the administration to cover up the whole issue affirmed our prima facie belief expressed by us," the Bench said.The role of the University authorities in the entire incident is required to be looked into, the judges opined."We, therefore, request the General Council to convene a meeting at the earliest so as to take cognizance of the report of the Fact Finding Committee and do the needful."The matter will be next heard on April 4..During the previous hearing in the matter, the Bench had expressed shock over the findings of the committee, which revealed that incidents of rape, molestation, favouritism, homophobia, lack of information to students about the ICC, were prevalent at GNLU. The Bench had then slammed the GNLU administration, which had initially claimed that nothing happened in the varsity..The report was submitted by the committee headed by former High Court judge Justice Harsha Devani, which had been constituted to look into allegations of sexual harassment and homophobia at GNLU.The committee had been reconstituted on the basis of an order in a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) initiated by the High Court after allegations of rape of one student and harassment of another queer student at GNLU were reported in Ahmedabad Mirror last year..Advocate Krina Calla appeared as Amicus Curiae.Assistant Government Pleader Krutik Parikh represented the State.Senior Advocate Kamal Trivedi along with Advocate Dharmishta Raval represented GNLU..[Read order]