 Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 4: Under fire for his alleged misbehaviour, Prof Avtar Singh Jasrotia, Head of Department Geology, was finally relieved from headship till further orders by the Jammu University administration.
The students, scholars and some of the faculty members of Geology department of the University were on indefinite strike since yesterday against the alleged misconduct of Prof Jasrotia.
Sensing gravity of the situation and the pressure being mounted by the agitating students as well as some of the faculty members, the University administration this evening relieved Jasrotia from headship till further orders. "The Vice-Chancellor today chaired a high-level meeting of the administration. The decision to relive Jasrotia was taken after a committee constituted for the purpose also submitted its report," sources in the administration told Early Times.
Earlier, the agitating students today gathered outside the office of HoD Geology Prof Jasrotia, who also holds additional charge of Head of Remote Sensing and GIS and tried to enter his chamber but the University's security guards did not allow them to step in.
Shouting slogans against Prof Jastoria, the agitating students said that they would further aggressively intensify their strike, if the administration doesn't take action against him.
"He is habitual of misbehaving with students, two years back he was removed from the post of Director Physical Education, the University of Jammu following complaints of harassment by girl students. But the administration keeping his 'bad' track record, again made him head of two departments", said a girl student, while talking to media persons, during their protest in campus this afternoon.
"He frequently misbehaves with us, he harasses students, especially girls. We time and again objected his misdeeds, but under the patronage of University the administration, he keeps threatening us of expelling from the University if we raise our voice against him", the students said, adding that they were agitating since Tuesday evening, but the administration seem unbothered to take any action against Prof Jasrotia.
"He often says that Vice-Chancellor of the University in his pocket, so nobody can dare him, his claims seem proved now as the administration instead of taking action against him is buying time to hush-up the matter", they said. "Some of the faculty members, who were supporting or agitation and sitting on hunger strike fell un-conscious and have hospitalized", they said.
Public Relation Officer, University of Jammu Dr Vinay Thusso when contacted admitted that Prof Jasrotia has been relieved from the post of Head of Geology department with immediate effect. |
