Supreme Court Dismisses NUJS Faculty Member’s POSH Complaint Against Vice Chancellor, Orders Allegations Remain on Record
Court Cites Limitation Period But Mandates Judgment be Included in Vice Chancellor’s Resume for Accountability
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the sexual harassment complaint filed under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) by a faculty member of National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS) against its Vice-Chancellor, citing limitation grounds. The complaint had been filed with the Local Complaints Committee (LCC) in December 2023, beyond the statutory window, as the last alleged instance of sexual harassment occurred in April 2023.
Despite rejecting relief due to technical reasons, the Bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and PB Varale directed that the allegations must be permanently recorded in the Vice Chancellor’s resume. The Court acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, detailing unwelcome advances from 2019 to April 2023, but clarified that subsequent administrative actions taken against the complainant, such as her removal from a directorial post and an inquiry into research funds, were not acts of sexual harassment, but collective decisions by university bodies.
The Supreme Court also found there was no continuing wrong or link between the last incident and later administrative measures, holding that the limitation period could not be extended on such grounds. While the appeal was dismissed, the unusual direction to retain the record of allegations underscores the importance of accountability and lasting documentation of serious complaints, even where technical barriers preclude punitive action.