2 BDU professors rejoin after HC relief

Trichy: Two Bharathidasan University (BDU) professors who were given compulsory retirement over sexual harassment charges have rejoined service after Madras high court's Madurai bench rapped the university for not following procedures prescribed under POSH Act, and directed it to conduct a fresh re-inquiry.The university syndicate at its meeting on Sept 22, 2025, had approved compulsory retirement for both professors, S Ganesan and D Ramesh. According to Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) reports accessed by TOI, S Ganesan, formerly of the economics department, was accused of inappropriate behaviour towards a student on Nov 4, 2024. While he was given court relief and continued in service — as he was on leave when the order was served — the court later set aside the syndicate's decision. He has since continued working in the commerce department, where he was demoted following the complaint last year.In the case of Ramesh from the department of remote sensing, registrar R Kalidasan, in a communication dated Jan 29 said the court had mandated the ICC to provide the professor a full opportunity to present his case, including the right to cross-examine the complainant and witnesses, before submitting its findings under Sections 11 and 13 of the Act. The university was also directed to issue a second showcause notice and pass final orders in accordance with law. While it is unclear whether the university will appeal the order in Ramesh's case, commissioner of collegiate education and VC committee convenor E Sundaravalli had told TOI that an appeal had been filed against the court order in Ganesan's case. "The professor accepted that he had sent late-night messages and emojis to the student and accepted all allegations except the incident on November 4 at the economics department," the ICC report dated Dec 16, 2024 said. The ICC report on Ramesh (dated July 14, 2025) indicated that apart from the complainant, no witnesses — including the professor himself — supported the charges. However, ICC concluded he was guilty based solely on ‘agitated sounds of the student leaving the cabin,' seen in the corridor CCTV footage.A VC committee member, who is also a syndicate member, said he was unaware of the syndicate agenda, which ideally should have been shared with him. "Due to pressure, we approved it. This has now become a setback for the university," he said. Former AUT president K Pandiyan said UGC procedures were violated. "Such issues are used to settle personal scores. But who will take responsibility for this? Professors lose their reputation, finances, and much more."