TOI Report NALSAR Dean - Academic Affairs accuses VC of Sexual Harassment
The Times of India has reported that the Vice Chancellor of the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research University at Hyderabad (“NALSAR”), Dr. Veer Singh has been accused of sexual harassment by Dr. Amita Dhanda, the Dean of Academic Affairs at NALSAR.
The Times of India has reported that the Vice Chancellor of the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research University at Hyderabad (“NALSAR”), Dr. Veer Singh has been accused of sexual harassment by Dr. Amita Dhanda, the Dean of Academic Affairs at NALSAR.
According to the report, various university sources have opined that the complaint is the result of a prolonged difference of opinion between the parties.
Bar & Bench tried to contact both parties for their comments on this matter but did not receive any response.
Dr. Veer Singh has nearly four decades of experience in teaching. He has held important administrative positions in various educational institutes such as the Punjab University, Institute of Law, Kurukshetra University and Army Institute of Law, Mohali. He has also been a member of several committees such as the Punjab Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh. He is also a visiting faculty to various educational institutes.
Dr. Amita Dhanda teaches Administrative Law, Law and Poverty, Law and Literature and Judicial Process, at NALSAR. She was previously on the Research Faculty of the Indian Law Institute, Delhi for fifteen years. Dr. Dhanda has written extensively on the legal position of persons suffering from mental disability including a book titled “Legal Order and Mental Disorder”, and has provided her opinions to the Government of India and the Supreme Court on the same.
The Times of India news report is reproduced below.
Hyderabad: A senior professor of Nalsar University of Law, Amita Dhanda (dean, academic affairs), has accused vice-chancellor(VC) Veer Singh of 'criminal defamation, sexual harassment and misconduct'.
In her complaint to Nalsar chancellor, AP High Court chief justice Madan B Lokur, Dhanda alleged that the VC had sent her an email on Dec 22 containing a sexual innuendo. But she refused to comment further on the email contents when asked by TOI. VC Singh, however, denied the charge, stating that Dhanda "misinterpreted his communication" and "it was abnormal to see a sexual connotation in the same".
While the complaint was made on Dec 25, the issue came to light after Dhanda sent the details to all faculty members on Dec. 26. University sources, however, said that the current complaint was the end result of an ensuing cold war between the duo since her appointment as dean, academic affairs, by ex-Nalsar chancellor and then APHC CJ Nisar Ahmad Kakru. The differences between the two widened after Kakru retired.
APPRENTICE LAWYER
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 - 12:35pm
Comments (1)
Monday, May 20, 2013 - 6:29pm
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Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - 10:05am
Comments (9)
Comments
Nalsar alumni
December 29, 2011 - 12:13amBesides being one of the best legal academics in India (and undoubtedly the best Nalsar has ever had, by some margin), Prof. Dhanda deserves a huge deal of credit for ensuring that Nalsar is now a top law school (for both, academic reputation and overall national standing). Her contributions to legal academia, in general and Nalsar, in particular are immense. A four line write-up about her qualifications and experience (mentioned below Veer's ostensible 'teaching experience') do not do justice to the insitition she is. Rather than copying and pasting a TOI article, Barandbench should get in touch with students from Nalsar (as well as alumni) to get a more accurate idea of what this war is about. To many, this is a conflict between progressive, liberal values versus a North Korea type authoritarian, ignorant mindset. If this does not end with the VC of Nalsar being dismissed, it would be a sad day for Indian legal education (and confirm what a lot of us have been saying for years - that Indian legal education, even in the top law schools, is a wreck).
missing the point
December 29, 2011 - 8:27pmIs it just me, or is this sexual harrassment complaint being sidelined by the politics that may or may not have caused it? Why are the comments revolving around either person's qualifications or political mindset or whether NLU students are too smart or too stupid instead of focussing on whether a woman was sexually harassed at work?
NALSAR
December 30, 2011 - 2:03pmPeople can go on and on about great Amita Dhanda is, but the fact of the matter is she never got along well with anybody. I am from NALSAR, I know that she never got along well with Ranbir Singh either and she may be a great academician, but A BAD ADMINISTRATOR! She teaches the most useless of courses like Law and Poverty and makes it look as if it's the most important subject in the law school curriculum, never bold enough to accept the fact that her subjects are of no importance to a lawyer's life. Thinking abstract stuff and making mountain out of nothing is and always has been her forte, ask the hundreds of students who she has bored over the years during her lectures. And being a woman, it's hardly surprising that she chose to decipher 'sexual harassment' as the only undertone in Veer Singh's mail. The meaning of 'personal interest' is only a sexual understanding between two people? Strange. Sad day for NALSAR, she should have handled it better. But now the job is done, Veer Singh will be removed, she will be happy. Great.
Kroswami
December 29, 2011 - 11:56pm@Missing the Point: My sentiments exactly!!!! Why is everything reduced to a college-bashing contest?
Ujubesh
December 30, 2011 - 2:03pmThis is horrendous! How vice chancellor Singh can be accused by Dhanda madam of sexual harassment. I have met Dr. Singh personally. He is fine and upright gentlemen. This accusation by Dhanda madam is false. She only wants to become vice chancellor.
suresh kalmadi
December 30, 2011 - 5:58pmIt is well known that Amita Dhanda had applied for the post of VC in NUJS as she was having problems in NALSAR.
Danda
December 31, 2011 - 12:00am@ 11. One by one shall we:1. Great Administrator(sic!) bad academician:That is how you should define Ranbir Singh and his ilk (read the rajput gang that dominates the law school these days!)2. Subjects like Law and Poverty are useless: The infinite and blissful Delhi dumbness can be deciphered here, your presumption is most obviously based on the fact that lawyers and law have nothing to do with poverty!3. "Thinking abstract stuff and making mountain out of nothing": Thinking and making mountains out of nothing is what all great men (read women) do, and the incapability to think and decipher is hardly something you should cherish.4. "And being a woman, it's hardly surprising that she chose to decipher 'sexual harassment' as the only undertone in Veer Singh's mail. The meaning of 'personal interest' is only a sexual understanding between two people?": When will you learn it is only the harassed who can distinguish between what harassment is? Did you even try and "think" the context in which the letter may have been written or for that matter even why was it written?
DoubleDanda
December 31, 2011 - 7:36am@13...Yawn. Pissed? zzzzz....
Rajput
December 31, 2011 - 7:36am@13: Ranbir Singh and Veer Singh are NOT Rajputs. This is really a contest between Jats! So please don't rant about rajput gangs!
Nalsar Alumni
December 31, 2011 - 3:18pmAll members of NALSAR alumni that are worth anything at all have the highest respect for Prof. Dhanda. She is brilliant, is a committed teacher and has the highest integrity. Veer Singh has managed to drive all the other decent teachers away from NALSAR but she has been so loyal to the university that she has stayed on. This disgusting allegation of his is clearly evidence that he will stoop to anything to push her out of NALSAR. Anyone who is obtuse enough to see a complaint from a brilliant professor who has worked tirelessly for the university as a bid for VC-ship is attributing his//her own shallow motives to other people. Prof Dhanda has declined being nomnated as NUJS VC. She is now an eminent international scholar in her field. The only reason she stays at NALSAR is out of her loyalty and commitment. She does not need cheap tactics like this to prove to the world that she is better than Veer Singh. Everybody already knows she is. Please note that the TOI reports indicate that he has been talkng to the press, whereas she has not. This is just another case of a cheap man using cheap tactics to undermine a brilliant woman. Luckily this woman is strong enough to call a spade a spade, and to fight back. For all those who are insisting this isn't harassment, please 1) note that you have not seen it so you are hardly placed to comment 2) read Visaka before you dazzle us all with your ignorance about what amounts to sexual harassment
Raj
December 31, 2011 - 11:35pmthough I am nobody to comment about this alleged sexual harrasment row, there is lot of academic degrdation in NALSAR. Prof. Veer Singh started his innings by with removing Prof. Errabbi one of countries finest constitutional law academicians, then he threw out Mr. Unni who is widely known for his expertise in IPR Law and financial law. afterwards Prof. Errabi joined a pvt college in Hyderabad and Unni joined another private institution in Pune called Symbiosis Law College . Prof. Kalpana Kannbiran an eminent sociologist also left NALSAR to join HCU
NLS Alumnus
December 29, 2011 - 12:31am@NALSAR Alumni: Even otherwise the so called "top NLU" is a wreck! How do you expect B&B to speak to students on such an issue. The apt people are the persons involved to comment. What sense does your statement make! Shows the quality of the so called top NLU!
BB
January 1, 2012 - 6:22pmNalsar should be kicked out of CLAT and stripped of NLU status. The college is full of controversies and scams and is bringing a bad name to the NLU fraternity.
BB King
January 2, 2012 - 6:08pm@ 18 - Over-simplifying the issues my friend. Better not to comment.
NLU-ite
January 4, 2012 - 7:45am@BB- Plus there was a question paper leak earlier last year. Seriously, the standards of this university are going down.
NLSite
January 4, 2012 - 5:47pmThis is very sad for the legal fraternity. Allegations, whether true or not, bring shame to law colleges. Since the issue has now blown up, poor nalsar can expect rough weather in days to come.
nalsarite
January 5, 2012 - 12:22am@21: I hope you are not suggesting that people should suffer harassment without complaint. If the allegations are true then redressal is necessary
Chitra Elangovan
January 11, 2012 - 6:59amThe well known fact is that the tussle for VC post has been going on for quite some time and Dr Ranbeer Sigh, the previous VC got his chela, Dr Veer Singh, appointed as VC and got the Registrar appointed two days before Dr Veer Singh was to take over as new VC. Prof. Dhanda is eminently eligible for VC post but it was Dr Ranbeer Singh who used his influence to remote control NALSAR even after his four terms as VC.Dr Ranbeer Singh is in the Telangana Srikrishna Commitee also. Dr Ranbeer Singh saw to it that there is not a single professor of eminence so that Dr Singh is not overshadowed.
kicker
February 9, 2012 - 5:05amremove both of them immediately,otherwise entire institution reputation goes to dogs, vc shall not send e-mail like that, and Prof. Dhanda abuses her rights acquired being a woman, both committed mis- management in their respective fields, hence their services are no more required,administrative action shall also follow, without them any more.
kicker
February 9, 2012 - 5:08amremove both of them immediately,otherwise entire institution reputation goes to dogs, vc shall not send e-mail like that, and Prof. Dhanda abuses process of law by taking advantage of her rights acquired being a woman, both committed mis- management in their respective fields, hence their services are no more required,administrative action shall also follow, without them any more.
kicker
February 9, 2012 - 5:10am'remove both of them immediately,otherwise entire institution reputation goes to dogs, vc shall not send e-mail like that, and Prof. Dhanda abuses process of law by taking advantage of her rights acquired being a woman, both committed mis- management in their respective fields, hence their services are no more required,administrative action shall also follow, without them any more."
kicker
February 9, 2012 - 8:09am'remove both of them immediately,otherwise entire institution reputation goes to dogs, vc shall not send e-mail like that, and Prof. Dhanda abuses process of law by taking advantage of her rights acquired being a woman, both committed mis- management in their respective fields, hence their services are no more required,administrative action shall also follow, without sparing them any more."
Response to dum...
December 29, 2011 - 7:56amoh god, please don't make this a NLS v. Nalsar debate. The reality is that faculty at both NLS and Nalsar are equally incompetent, so where there is a rare person who is both a genuine academic as well as an effective teacher, then she does stand out, regardless of which law school s/he is associated with.
LAW ALUMNI
December 29, 2011 - 7:25amIt is a very serious issue where the VC is trying to use sexually coloured remarks linking the Former CJ of AP (NALSAR's then Chancellor) and Prof. Dhanda who is one of the best academicians India ever produced. Severe action needs to be taken against the VC for such undignified conduct. VC's letter to Prof. Dhanda accuses that the post of Dean-Academic Affairs was created "on account of some very personal interests of former chancellor, a fact which is well known to everybody". He also accuses the Former Chancellor and Prof. Dhanda for indulging in high manipulation. Today's TOI has published excerpts of VC's letter to Prof. Dhanda. The words used by VC are extremely shocking and are done with the clear intention to tarnish the reputation of the former Chancellor and Prof. Dhanda. Present CJ and Chancellor of NALSAR should take immediate steps to make sure that the dignity of all including women employees are protected in the so called JUSTICE CITY Campus of NALSAR
Hero
December 29, 2011 - 12:27pmWell said comment
mud and bad blood
December 29, 2011 - 1:25pmIt is highly improbable that the comment was made by some NLS alumnus or student. Students of top NLUs don't really participate in this type of tomfoolery and call each other names without any basis. And as any alumnus of a NLU would know, NALSAR students are no different from NLSIU or NLU or NUJS students.
VED PARKASH SEHTIYA
December 29, 2011 - 2:14pmHe is the man of bad character, high temperament, he can go to any extent, it is good that she is safe. He is the man of such type, that he has spoiled life of several persons in RAYAT AND BAHRA COLLEGE OF LAW, SOUHRAN MOHALI, (I am also one of effected person) WHEN HE WAS PRINCIPAL there. I suggest that she should file complaint before the concerned Chief Judicial Magistrate, and she should not wait further for the action by the Chancellor against "VEER SINGH". I had also filed CRM NO 705 OF 2008 titled as VED PARKASH SEHTIYA V/S VEER SINGH in the honourable PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT AT CHANDIGARH, and also filed several Writ petitions against the Principal RAYAT AND BAHRA COLLEGE OF LAW. DR. AMITA DHANDA, DO NOT SPARE VEER SINGH, FILE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST VEER SINGH IMMEDIATELY. I AM READY TO HELP YOU IN ANY WAY. VED PARKASH SEHTIYA ADVOCATE MOBILE 0469917155
Nalsar Student
December 29, 2011 - 3:09pmThose of us who have been unfortunate enough to have been subjected to Mr Veer Singh's rants can testify that the man has little sense of occasion and even less of dignified language. His behaviouir and speech is crass at best, downright insulting generally and positively offensive frequently. His previous intemperate remarks at a student's unfortunate demise and also when the first public run in with Prof. Dhanda happened are instances of the same. One hopes that the Exec Council and more importantly the Chancellor shall take notice of this and give the Hon'ble VC his just desserts. This has been the year of burying dictators, let us add one more to the list before it ends.
Devil
December 29, 2011 - 6:32pmThe standard of the dabate shows the class of all the alleged best law schools.
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