Times of
India: Patiala: Friday, September 06, 2019.
The
Administration Officer (AO) of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL)
of Punjab who faced a judicial inquiry over the allegations of making sexual
remarks against hostel girls and suspending six students for protesting over
the bad quality mess food had resigned from his post. The students claimed that
authorities were trying to conceal this information and the probe report as
there were substantial evidence against the AO.
The
information about the resignation of AO, SP Singh, came out only after the
RGNUL University students had sought and availed information under the RTI Act.
The information was retrieved in August this year.
According
to the information under RTI Act, AO SP Singh had submitted his resignation in
June this year and mentioned that he had worked for eight long years in the
university and was only abiding the instructions and guidance of his immediate
senior officials that include Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of RGNUL.
In
his resignation, he claimed that he was grossly misunderstood by the students
whom he had considered as his own children since he joined.
Confirming
the development RGNUL Registrar Naresh Kumar said, “The AO had resigned a long
time back. He resigned in June this year.”
The
investigation against the AO was initiated on April 19 with the recording of
statements of students.
However,
later the students feared to appear as a witness inside the campus and demanded
an alternative.
“The
university Chancellor, sitting Chief Justice of the High Court, appointed the
Additional District Session Judge Patiala to conduct the probe and hearings in
his court where numerous students depose before the court and recorded their
statements. There were sufficient evidence against SP Singh and the university
administration following which the AO resigned a week before the submission of
an inquiry report. The authorities are not making it public but we have sought
information under RTI Act to avail the probe report,"said Arjun Sheron,
counsel for RGNUL students.
In
March this year, the students in RGNUL protested against the authorities
following bad quality food being served in the mess. The students banged their
plates in protest following which six students were placed under suspension.
The students then went on indefinite strike and then also levelled allegations
against the AO for allegedly abusing hostel girls and making sexual remarks.
However, on March 20 they ended their indefinite strike after their demands
including the revocation of all the suspended six students, hygienic food, and
inquiry against AO SP Singh to be followed with suspension if found guilty. The
Administrative Officer was however sent on three months forcibly leave.