The High Court yesterday declared unlawful Jahangirnagar University syndicate's decision exonerating Associate Professor Sanowar Hossain Sunny of Drama and Dramatics department from charges of sexually harassing girl students.

In its judgment the High Court also declared "illegal" the JU syndicate action suspending six students of the department following a complainant lodged by Sunny who had been assaulted by his students.

Besides, the High Court asked the JU authorities to constitute a probe body in line with the May 14 High Court verdict that has set a guideline to protect the rights of girls and women at educational institutions and workplaces to address this issue of sexual abuse and harassment.

In the verdict the HC observed that "criminal jurisprudence shall not be applicable in case of internal or domestic probe body to prove the case of sexual abuse and harassment beyond any doubt".

The High Court orders came upon a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) writ petition challenging the legality of both the impugned decisions of the JU syndicate.

Noted academic Professor Serajul Islam Chowdhury, journalist Kamal Lohani and three rights body filed the PIL writ petition. Later five sexually harassed students of JU joined in the legal battle as an added party.

On October 21 last year, students assaulted the head of Drama and Dramatics department, Sanowar Hossain Sunny, after he was cleared of sexual harassment charges by the syndicate.

In May last year, five female students of the department submitted an allegation in writing to the Vice-chancellor accusing Sunny of harassing them sexually and sought redress.

Emerging from the court, the counsel for the sexually harassed students, Ruhul Quddus Babu, told reporters that three probe bodies were constituted that first found the allegation based on facts and the second one proved the offender's misconduct.

The third probe body stated that the allegation was not proved beyond doubt and cleared the offender of the charges.

Barrister Sara Hossain appeared for the PIL petitioners.

Source: UNB, Dhaka