Today, 1st May, GNLU’s Registrar issued a full apology for downplaying allegations of rape and harassment at the university. The apology comes after widespread criticism and demands for accountability from students and activists. The university administration has promised to take concrete steps to address the issues and ensure a safer environment for all students. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges universities face in addressing cases of sexual violence on campus.
Ahmedabad: The Registrar of Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), On Wednesday, issued an unconditional apology to the Gujarat High Court for previously asserting in an affidavit that the accusations of rape, molestation, discrimination, homophobia, and favouritism within the University were unfounded.
The bench, led by Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and including Justice Aniruddha Mayee, acknowledged the Registrar’s apology. Subsequently, they concluded a public interest litigation (PIL) that was under review, providing several recommendations aimed at improving the operations of the Internal Complaints Committee at the University. These suggestions intended to enhance the handling of similar allegations in the future.
The Court has been closely monitoring a public interest litigation (PIL) it initiated on its own accord after a news report highlighted serious allegations of rape and harassment of a queer student at GNLU (Gujarat National Law University).
Previously, on February 28, the Court taken aback by the findings of a committee that investigated these allegations, substantiating the claims. This was in stark contrast to the GNLU Registrar’s earlier affidavit, in which he had refuted these allegations and requested the Court to dismiss the PIL.
During the hearing on April 29, the Court instructed the Registrar to issue an apology. The Court expressed its dissatisfaction with the lack of disciplinary actions against the Registrar, noting the absence of any formal inquiry into his conduct and the failure to submit an apology.
The Court remarked,
“No action has been taken against the Registrar. No inquiry is conducted. The way he responded to this Court. You are required to make at least an inquiry. He has not even submitted an apology to us,”
Following the Court’s directive, the Registrar submitted an affidavit today to offer his unconditional apology.
The affidavit, presented by Advocate General Kamal B. Trivedi, expressed a solemn acknowledgment of the severity of the sexual harassment incidents at the University.
It stated,
“I wish to express my deepest respect and make it clear that there was never any intent on my part, especially no deliberate intent, to downplay these serious incidents. The statements I made in the affidavit were driven by my commitment to defend the University with utmost dedication. Nevertheless, I realize that my remarks were ill-considered, overlooking the critical fact that this case is centered on public interest and is not a mere adversarial dispute. For this oversight, I offer my sincere and unconditional apology.”
When questioned about the current composition of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) at the University, Advocate General Trivedi revealed to the Court that the committee included only one male member and all student representatives were women.
The Chief Justice emphasized the importance of having a male perspective in the ICC, stating,
“You need male point of view also in ICC. I have been Chairperson of ICC and I always requested Chief Justice to bring male members also because version of both (genders) has to be there. There may be some complaints by male members also.”
Regarding student representatives, the Attorney General explained that the current setup is provisional until elections are held in accordance with the regulations.
The Court acknowledged this and emphasized the requirement for other committee members to be appointed by the University Director.
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The Court recommended,
“There seems to be an excessive eagerness to have only women in this committee. However, the inclusion of at least one more male member is advisable,”
Subsequently, Attorney General Trivedi promised the Court that an additional male member would be appointed to the committee.
Following that, the Court proposed the establishment of a complaint box managed by an independent secretariat to ensure the proper handling of complaints while safeguarding the identity of the complainant.
The Court outlined,
“The complaints should not pass through the office. These are not ordinary complaints. There should be a secretariat consisting of at least one or two individuals who can receive and present the complaints to the committee. If a complaint involves an employee against another employee,”
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) ultimately resolved with the Court noting, The Court remarked,
“He may never be given charge of Registrar because he is not fit to be a Registrar. He may be fit to be a professor. Not everyone is suited for administrative roles; many are not fit for such duties,”
Previously, The Gujarat High Court directed the Registrar of Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) to issue an apology for previously dismissing allegations of rape, molestation, discrimination, homophobia, and favouritism at the university. Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee expressed disappointment over the lack of disciplinary action against the Registrar, stressing the need for an apology and an inquiry into the matter. The case arose from a suo motu public interest litigation prompted by media reports on alleged misconduct. Despite efforts by GNLU to address student concerns, the court emphasized the importance of creating an environment where students can freely express their grievances.
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