The Federal Ombudsperson has directed the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) to sack the teacher over sexual harassment.
According to details, Federal Ombudsman Secretariat (Protection Against Harassment of Women At Work Place) after detailed investigation and considering decision of inquiry committee of the LUMS and hearing arguments of both parties has decided to “removal from service” of respondent under Section 4(ii) (c) of Act 2010 for Protection against Harassment of Women at workplace.
The Federal Ombudsman Secretariat has also directed LUMS management to implement the order with immediate effect.
According to local news papers, A student of LUMS, had filed an appeal with the Ombudsperson against the decision of university inquiry committee. The student alleged that her teacher harassed her with derogatory remarks and touched her shoulder as well.
But the university inquiry committee did not take the case as sexual harassment but “highly un professional conduct” and “conduct unbecoming” and advised the teacher to write an apology letter to his student.
The Federal Ombudsperson (FO) observed, instead of taken it as sexual harassment issue just in fear of losing a brilliant teacher.
The FO also observed that the inquiry committee and vice chancellor did not impose any penalty that seems to be very surprising by a reputable institute of higher learning because teacher is always a role model for students. What students learn from their great teachers is not detailed in syllabus.
The FO affirmed that the conduct and behaviour of the teacher definitely fell under the definition of sexual harassment as no person under the umbrella of a teacher is allowed to disgrace a female student or to save himself or by his employees under the grab of highly valuable faculty member as expressed by competent authority of LUMS.
Later, a direct evidence of video footage also confirmed the incident, according to officials
The FO Committee concluded that “Act of respondent was a sexual demeaning attitude which somehow has been admitted by the teacher himself and by the inquiry committee in its report. Whereas on ground of delay in filing appeal it is observed that such technicalities have to be avoided to meet the end of justice and give protection to human rights,”