Shillong: The Press Council of India dismissed a complaint filed by Prof Binod Kumar Agarwala of NEHU against this newspaper and its editor for her story captioned, “NEHU research scholar alleges harassment: Allegations against HOD Philosophy Department” (ST April 4, 2014).
In its Adjudication order dated March 17, 2016 the Press Council of India said, “On consideration of the records of the case and report of the Inquiry Committee, accepts reasons, findings and adopts the report of the Committee and decided to dismiss the complaint.” The matter had come up before the Inquiry Committee, headed by PCI Chairman, Justice CK Prasad, on December 9, 2015 at Guwahati where the complainant, Dr Agarwala and the respondent Ms Patricia Mukhim were present. The Inquiry Committee heard both parties and carefully perused the complaint and other relevant records. It noted that the subject matter of the news item is harassment of a research scholar by the Head of Department (HOD) and observed, “The very fact that a research scholar is running from pillar to post for appointment of a supervisor to guide her, in the opinion of the Inquiry Committee, is news. It seems from the news item that that the complainant had a role in it. The Inquiry Committee wonders as to how the HOD could refuse a communication from a research scholar.
The Inquiry Committee is of the opinion that the respondent newspaper has carried out its journalistic duty by publishing the news. The Inquiry Committee is also of the view that the Vice Chancellor and the Minister of Human Resources, Govt of India, shall take steps on the fact and circumstances of the case.”
The Inquiry Committee recommended the dismissal of the case with the above observations.
It may be reminded that Dipanjali Das a research scholar of the Philosophy Dept, NEHU, had in April 23rd 2014 called up the ST editor in a state of great distress as she was about to miss her deadline for her research scholarship due to the non-cooperation of the HOD Dr Binod Kumar Agarwalla and his insistence that Das stick to a guide who had expressed his inability to perform his duty as he was not familiar with the subject matter.
Despite a departmental meeting that sanctioned the appointment of another guide to assist Ms Das, the HOD was insistent that it could not be done and a PhD guide once assigned cannot be changed. Later, the University appointed a 3-member committee headed by Prof LS Gassah which also recommended that under certain circumstances a change of guide is permitted.
