RGNUL Registrar Anand Pawar suspended over sexual harassment, misconduct

Dr. Anand Pawar, the Registrar of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala has been suspended over allegations of sexual harassment, academic and administrative misconduct and financial irregularities..As per the suspension order issued by RGNUL Vice-Chancellor Prof Jai Shankar Singh, Pawar stands accused of bigamy, cruelty to his first wife, violations of University post-doctoral regulations and abuse of his position as Registrar..Cruelty, bigamy and sexual harassment charges.The order states that in 2014, Pawar's first wife filed a criminal case against him for cruelty under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code.An order passed by the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in 2023 prevents Pawar from marrying again. However, it is stated that the Registrar entered into a second marriage with an Associate Professor at RGNUL. The two are apparently living together on the University campus.Pawar also faces allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by an Assistant Professor at the University. Aggrieved by the order of the University's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), the complainant approached the Punjab & Haryana High Court's ICC and got a favourable order. On appeal, Justice GS Sandhawalia of the High Court ordered Pawar to pay the complainant a sum of ₹3 lakh, the order reveals..Financial irregularities and abuse of position.The order also states that Pawar misused his post of Registrar and Officiating Vice-Chancellor, which he held in 2020-21 and 2023-24..Pawar allegedly allotted assets and perks to himself by proposing agenda items in the RGNUL Finance Committee and Executive Council meetings that benefited him. This included allotting a special allowance to the Registrar vide an order from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, allotting an honorarium to the Officiating Vice-Chancellor, allotting the VIP Guest House at RGNUL as the Registrar's residence and allocating University vehicles to himself..Academic misconduct.While he was Registrar at RGNUL, Pawar undertook supervision of PhD candidates in violation of the RGNUL PhD Regulations that allow only a regular professor or a full-time regular teacher to act as a supervisor.During his tenure as officiating Vice-Chancellor, Pawar also supervised research candidates and transferred candidates without the consent of their previous supervisor to his second wife, who is an Associate Professor at the University..The order, which takes immediate effect to prevent Pawar from tampering with evidence, also states that a detailed inquiry must be conducted into various other allegations of financial, administrative and academic which have not been mentioned. Stating that Pawar has flouted the RGNUL Regulations and the Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1966, the order states,"Your conduct is against decency, and morality and involves moral turpitude. Your conduct lacks integrity and is unbecoming to hold such a high office.".Pawar has been restricted from engaging in any other employment, business, profession or vocation or leaving station without prior written permission.