Unbecoming conduct: Lecturer fired for harassing students

He was earlier suspended after inquiry committee found him guilty.

MANSEHRA:

After dilly-dallying for a year and a half, the vice chancellor (VC) of Hazara University has fired a lecturer guilty of harassment, informed sources told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.

The Registrar of Hazara University had suspended Adil Paracha, a lecturer of Haripur Campus, in September last year after receiving complaints from girl students of Management Sciences from the second and third semesters.

The eight girls had accused the teacher of unbecoming and indecent behaviour. One of the complainants had stated in a written statement that the lecturer insulted her in front of other students by throwing water in her face. The other girls had also alleged that he had subjected them to harassment.

Although the lecturer had rejected the allegation, terming it a conspiracy against him by some of his colleagues, he was subsequently charged for the offence.

An inquiry committee headed by Director Research and Planning Dr Mukhtar found Paracha guilty and recommended disciplinary action against him after recording his and the complainants’ statements.

The inquiry report was referred to the 17-member syndicate in September last year, which recommended a re-investigation of the case before initiating disciplinary action against the lecturer.

Paracha was once again found guilty and the issue was taken up in a meeting of the syndicate chaired by VC Prof. Sakhawat Shah in January.

The VC finally endorsed the inquiry committee’s recommendation and issued a notification for dismissing Paracha from service.

Prof. Shah fired Paracha last week, confirmed the university spokesperson, Muhammad Sajjad, while talking to The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7^th, 2012.