Matter of jurisdiction: UoP withdraws harassment case against dean
Governor says VC not competent authority to suspend a professor
Governor says VC not competent authority to suspend a professor
PESHAWAR:
The University of Peshawar (UoP) has withdrawn charges of sexual harassment against Department of Life and Environmental Science Dean Professor Dr Amir Nawaz Khan after receiving an order to this effect by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan. The governor is the chancellor of universities.
A letter by the Higher Education, Archives and Libraries department directed the University of Peshawar Vice Chancellor to withdraw the charges, saying the chancellor was pleased to reach the conclusion that there is no need to proceed against Amir. As a result, the charges of harassment against him need to be withdrawn immediately, it stated.
University of Peshawar Spokesman Akhtar Amin confirmed the governor’s directions, adding the varsity has withdrawn the case and reinstated the professor to his designation. He said the governor is the authority when it comes to universities and they are bound to follow his orders.
Suspended for sexual harassment
The UoP administration suspended Professor Dr Amir Nawaz Khan from his position in November, 2014 on charges of harassing a woman who was a student in his department. The matter came to light on January 21, 2014 when a group of students protested against the professor and vandalised the Department of Life and Environmental Science. They damaged fixtures and demanded university authorities suspend the dean for his alleged involvement in the case.
On January 23, 2015, UoP took action against the students involved in the vandalism and formed a fact-finding committee to assess the damage to university property.
However, instead of starting further action against the students, the committee reached the conclusion that the harassment charges had substance. As a result, the university administration suspended Amir and started an enquiry against him. Amir submitted an appeal with the chancellor and challenged the authority of the syndicate committee and university administration.
On January 12, 2015, the K-P governor directed the immediate withdrawal of Amir’s suspension, saying the dean was a respected teacher serving in BPS-22. He added Amir was among the senior most deans of the UoP, and the university senate and chancellor were his appointing authorities. The VC and the syndicate were not the competent authority to suspend a meritorious professor of the university, Mehtab concluded.
On June 1, 2015, the K-P Governor directed UoP to withdraw the case and restored him on his post.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2015.
The University of Peshawar (UoP) has withdrawn charges of sexual harassment against Department of Life and Environmental Science Dean Professor Dr Amir Nawaz Khan after receiving an order to this effect by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan. The governor is the chancellor of universities.
A letter by the Higher Education, Archives and Libraries department directed the University of Peshawar Vice Chancellor to withdraw the charges, saying the chancellor was pleased to reach the conclusion that there is no need to proceed against Amir. As a result, the charges of harassment against him need to be withdrawn immediately, it stated.
University of Peshawar Spokesman Akhtar Amin confirmed the governor’s directions, adding the varsity has withdrawn the case and reinstated the professor to his designation. He said the governor is the authority when it comes to universities and they are bound to follow his orders.
Suspended for sexual harassment
The UoP administration suspended Professor Dr Amir Nawaz Khan from his position in November, 2014 on charges of harassing a woman who was a student in his department. The matter came to light on January 21, 2014 when a group of students protested against the professor and vandalised the Department of Life and Environmental Science. They damaged fixtures and demanded university authorities suspend the dean for his alleged involvement in the case.
On January 23, 2015, UoP took action against the students involved in the vandalism and formed a fact-finding committee to assess the damage to university property.
However, instead of starting further action against the students, the committee reached the conclusion that the harassment charges had substance. As a result, the university administration suspended Amir and started an enquiry against him. Amir submitted an appeal with the chancellor and challenged the authority of the syndicate committee and university administration.
On January 12, 2015, the K-P governor directed the immediate withdrawal of Amir’s suspension, saying the dean was a respected teacher serving in BPS-22. He added Amir was among the senior most deans of the UoP, and the university senate and chancellor were his appointing authorities. The VC and the syndicate were not the competent authority to suspend a meritorious professor of the university, Mehtab concluded.
On June 1, 2015, the K-P Governor directed UoP to withdraw the case and restored him on his post.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2015.