The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday stayed an order placing K. Karnamaharajan, Head of the Centre for Film and Electronic Media Studies of Madurai Kamaraj University, under compulsory retirement.
Justice V.M. Velumani stayed the order of the Syndicate and adjourned hearing in the case by two weeks. Karnamaharajan, in his petition, alleged that the Internal Complaints Committee that had submitted a report against him was not constituted as per procedure. He claimed that the members of the committee were heading departments, which itself was against the rule of framing the committee. Also, the committee had acted in a biased manner and ignored an expert opinion while deciding the issue, he said.
The Ph.D scholar, who had complained against him, had not produced any original evidence to prove her charges. Also, the evidence was misinterpreted. However, the ICC chose to recommend punishment without seeking the original evidence or verifying the facts, he said.
He said that a show cause notice was issued to him on June 6, seeking a reply within 15 days. A request was placed for additional time to reply. As the communication was not acknowledged, he filed a petition before the High Court Bench and the court had ordered notice.
The respondents, without replying to the court notice, decided to place him under compulsory retirement, he said and sought a stay of further proceedings of the order and a direction to reinstate him.
In 2018, a research scholar had complained against him of harassment and demanding sexual favours. She had also alleged that the professor had taken ₹ 2 lakh to admit her as a full-time scholar. The professor refuted the charges.
