Supreme Court Dismisses Sexual Harassment Case Against NUJS VC, Orders Record in Resume

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a sexual harassment case against West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences Vice-Chancellor (V-C) Nirmal Kanti Chakrabarti, while directing that the judgment, which details the allegations against him, be recorded in his professional resume.

A bench comprising Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B Varal heard a petition filed by a faculty member against Mr. Chakrabarti. While dismissing the case, the bench noted that such actions "may be forgiven but allowed to haunt the wrongdoer forever." The court stated, "In this view of the matter, we direct that the incidents of alleged sexual harassment on part of respondent no.1 may be forgiven but allowed to haunt the wrongdoer forever. Thus, it is directed that this judgment shall be made part of the resume of respondent no.1, compliance of which shall be strictly ensured by him personally."

The petition was dismissed after the court observed that the survivor had lodged a formal complaint on December 26, 2023, several months after the alleged incidents took place in April 2023. The complaint was initially registered with the Local Complaint Committee (LCC), which had rejected it as "time-barred," noting that it was filed beyond the prescribed limitation period of three months and even beyond the extendable limit of six months.

According to the faculty member, Mr. Chakrabarti joined the university as V-C in July 2019. Two months later, on September 8, 2019, he allegedly called her to his office and insisted she accompany him for dinner, claiming it would "greatly benefit her personally."

The court also clarified that the removal of the petitioner as Director of CFRGS could not be considered an act of sexual harassment related to the previous incidents. This decision was based on the report of NFCG, an independent body, and the court held that the removal did not constitute harassment in connection with prior allegations.

The Supreme Court's judgment emphasizes that while certain allegations may be forgiven, they will remain on record, serving as a permanent reminder of the misconduct for the individual involved.