GNLU Registrar tenders unconditional apology for downplaying rape, harassment allegations at University

The Registrar of Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) on Wednesday tendered his unconditional apology to Gujarat High Court for claiming on affidavit that the allegations of rape, molestation, discrimination, homophobia and favouritism at the University were false..A bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee took note of the apology and disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) before it after offering some suggestions for the Internal Complaints Committee at the University..The Court was hearing a suo motu PIL initiated following a news report on allegations of rape and the alleged harassment of a queer student at GNLU..On February 28, the Court had expressed shock after a fact-finding committee's report lent credence to the allegations. It had noted, at the time, that the GNLU Registrar had earlier filed an affidavit denying the allegations and urging the Court to close the suo motu proceedings.When the PIL was heard on April 29, the Court had directed the Registrar to tender an apology. "No action has been taken against the Registrar. No inquiry is conducted. They way he responded to this Court. You are required to make at least an inquiry. He has not even submitted apology to us," the had Court observed..Pursuant to the direction, the Registrar today filed the affidavit to tender his unconditional apology. "I most respectfully say that the incidents of sexual harassment in the University are of grave nature and there was no intention on my part, let alone wilful intention to disregard the same. The averments made by me in the affidavit were in the quest for defending the respondent University with utmost sincerity. However, I acknowledge that the said averments were not appropriate as a pertinent aspect was overlooked by me that the captioned proceedings are in public interest and not adversarial in nature. For the same, I tender my unconditional apology," the affidavit, as read by Advocate General (AG) Kamal B Trivedi stated..Upon asking AG Trivedi about the composition of the current ICC at the University, the Court found that it had only one male member and that all the student members were female members. "You need male point of view also in ICC...I have been Chairperson of ICC and I always requested Chief Justice to bring male members also because version of both (genders) has to be there. There may be some complaints by male members also," the CJ said..With respect to student members, the AG submitted that the arrangement was a temporary one until the students are elected as per regulations. The Court took note of the same and highlighted that other members have to be nominated by the Director of the University."Sometimes there is over-anxiety to keep women only in this committee. But at least one more (male) member has to be there," the Court suggested. Pursuantly, AG Trivedi assured the Court that one more male member would be added to the committee. .Thereafter, the Court recommended setting up of a complaint box handled by an independent secretariat to ensure that complaints are properly routed and the identity of the complainant is protected."Complaint should not be routed through office. It is not an ordinary complaint. There should be a secretariat of at least one or two people who can receive the complaints and put them before the committee...If a complaint is by an employee against an employee," the Court said..Ultimately, the PIL was disposed of with the Court recording that the Registrar may never be given the same charge."He may never be given charge of Registrar because he is not fit to be a Registar. He may be fit to be a professor. Every person cannot do administrative duties. Many people are not fit for that," the Court observed.