Delhi University Moves To HC Against Stay On Suspension Of Ramanujan College Principal

Delhi University

The University of Delhi has approached the Delhi High Court, challenging the interim stay granted on the suspension of Ramanujan College Principal Professor Rasal Singh, who faces sexual harassment allegations from 3 women faculty members.

A division bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Vimal Kumar Yadav will hear the matter on Wednesday. Along with DU, Ramanujan College, and one of the complainants, have also filed petitions against the September 26 order passed by a single-judge bench that had stayed Singh’s suspension.

DU Seeks To Set Aside Interim Stay

The university has urged the division bench to set aside the single-judge order, calling it legally unsustainable and contrary to established service jurisprudence. It has also requested the court to stay the operation of the September 26 order until the appeal is decided.

DU contended that the stay order was passed in “undue haste”, ignoring the serious nature of the allegations and the authority of the disciplinary body to act under Clause (9) of Ordinance XVIII (7) of the Delhi University Act, 1922. The university argued that the suspension was a precautionary, non-punitive measure to ensure the safety of women faculty while an inquiry is pending.

“The Disciplinary Authority, in the interest of women faculty members, was fully competent to suspend Rasal Singh with immediate effect,” the university stated, adding that the order violated due process under the POSH Act, 2013, and UGC Regulations, 2015.

Single-Judge Bench’s Observations

On September 26, Justice Sachin Datta had stayed Singh’s suspension till the next hearing, observing that he was not given an opportunity to be heard before action was taken against him. The court noted that the matter should have been placed before the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), not a separate committee constituted by the Deputy Registrar of Colleges.

“Considering that the allegations are to be inquired by the ICC, the determination of whether any interim measure is warranted also necessarily falls within the exclusive jurisdiction of the ICC,” the court had said.

Justice Datta held that suspending Singh even before the ICC examined the allegations was “unwarranted” and amounted to circumventing the committee’s jurisdiction. The court directed that the ICC expeditiously consider interim measures, including suspension if necessary, and accelerate the inquiry process.

Case Background

Professor Rasal Singh was suspended on September 18 following allegations of sexual harassment by 3 women teachers. He later moved to the High Court, arguing that the suspension order was issued without due process or a fair hearing.

Appearing for Singh, Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra contended that her client, known for his “distinguished academic career, unblemished service record, and integrity,” had become the target of a personal vendetta stemming from “certain vested interests.”