GU dismisses professor for harassing woman colleague

The board of management and academic council of Gujarat University on Friday dismissed Professor Mukesh Khatik for harassing a female colleague.

The university, after discussing the report submitted by the university’s women’s development cell on Mukesh Khatik, former head of the political science department, found him guilty of misbehaviour.

A woman colleague had complained of harassment by Khatik several times and the university had forwarded the complaint to its women’s development cell.

The administration also decided to set in motion a judicial inquiry against professor Kanwaljit Lakhtaria, after getting his reply to the show-cause notice issued to him.

Lakhtaria allegedly committed fraud when he was in-charge of the higher payment courses department and coordinator of the CCC exam.

Sources say this scam is worth about Rs 15 crore and may turn out to be the biggest in the history of the university.

The university has not taken a decision on suspended professors Vipul Patel of the MSW department and Vanrajsinh Chavda of the Indian culture department, who were found to be illegally recruited.

Sources said the board and council also discussed the construction of a new hostel building and renewal of the university campus canteen contract.

The council and board were told that no new colleges were approved this academic year, apart from one law college.