Court directs IIT Ropar to allow student to continue her studies, setting aside resignation accepted under alleged harassment
In a significant decision, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed the resignation of Fatima Maqsood, a Ph.D. student at the Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, finding that the resignation was submitted under compelling circumstances due to alleged harassment by faculty members. The Court directed the institute to allow Ms. Maqsood to resume her Ph.D. program in Chemistry, emphasizing the need for educational institutions to handle student grievances with fairness and sensitivity.
The case, presided over by Justice Kuldeep Tiwari, was brought under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India. Ms. Maqsood, represented by Mr. Amit Kumar Goyal, Advocate (Legal Aid Counsel), contended that she was forced to resign on November 22, 2025, following persistent misconduct and harassment by certain faculty members. Her resignation was accepted by the institute on the same day, without any attempt to address her grievances, which the Court noted as undue haste.
The Court observed that the circumstances surrounding the resignation pointed to a lack of voluntariness, with the acceptance of the resignation reflecting arbitrariness on the part of the institute. The judgment highlighted that educational institutions have a duty to act with fairness and should examine the circumstances surrounding a resignation to ascertain its voluntariness. The Court also noted that despite complaints against certain faculty members, no inquiry was conducted to verify the allegations, underscoring the failure of the institute to redress genuine grievances.
Furthermore, the Court acknowledged an affidavit submitted by Ms. Maqsood, wherein she undertook not to lodge further complaints and to focus on her studies. The Court directed that in case of any breach of this undertaking, the institute could take disciplinary action. Justice Tiwari requested the institute to create a conducive environment for Ms. Maqsood to continue her studies, given the contentious nature of the litigation.
This decision comes after reliance was placed on precedents where courts have allowed withdrawal of resignations under similar circumstances, emphasizing the need for thorough examination of the surrounding circumstances before accepting resignations.
The judgment serves as a reminder of the responsibilities of educational institutions in handling student issues and the importance of ensuring that any action taken is fair and just.
Bottom line:-
Resignation by a Ph.D. student due to alleged harassment by faculty members was held to be not voluntary but submitted under compelling circumstances. The resignation was set aside, and the student was allowed to continue her studies.
Statutory provision(s):
Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India
