High Court slams IIT scholar over sexist remark about professor

The Bombay High Court has rapped a Senior research scholar at IIT-Bombay, saying while he has a right to express dissent, his remarks on an associate professor’s personality were uncalled for.

Justice Satyaranjan Dharmadhikari and Justice Gautam Patel heard a petition by the man whose Doctorate Degree in economics was withheld as his apology was found unsatisfactory. He had joined IIT-B in 2010.

His petition said he had complained about anti- Hindu posters such as “Stop Hindutva Terrorism” put up on the campus by a students group called Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle.

His petition said he was called via e-mail by the woman professor of humanities and social sciences department for an informal meeting on the issue. His petition said he had replied expressing gratitude for the invitation.

“The petitioner also stated in the said email that the respondent 9 (complainant professor) is a lady of virtues and that the petitioner is full of respect for virtuous women,” it added.

His petition said as if acting on cue and to teach him a lesson, his reply was “wrongfully and highhandedly” construed as a sexist remark and a signature campaign launched. The professor moved the internal complaints committee (ICC) in May 2018.

The researcher told the ICC the distinction between virtuous and non-virtuous women can be made with the analogy of Mother Teresa and Indrani Mukerjea on opposite sides.

The ICC directed him to apologize and attend a session on gender sensitization. While the researcher was given his provisional degree, at the convocation ceremony, he was not given his final degree. Thereafter, he was told it was withheld as the appellate authority, director-IITB, had rejected his apology as “unsatisfactory.”

On Wednesday, his Advocate Yogendra Sharma and Advocate Pranati Mehra asked how the sentence could have a sexual connotation.

“He is a PhD Candidate. He is not a stranger to such language. Your client hadn't business putting this,” said Justice Patel, adding the remark was out of context.

Sharma said the professor is associated with the Circle. “Where is there any question of making comment on her personality? Who are you to comment on women meeting your concept of virtue? Who put you in that position? It is a personal attack and uncalled for,” said Justice Patel.

The Judges pointed out IIT-B does not say the researcher is not entitled to an opposing view. “Dissent is fundamental to it. You are entitled to dissent on politics etc. Your only issue was use of remarks referring to faculty who happens to be a woman,” said Justice Patel.

The judges then asked whether he wanted his PhD degree and the issue resolved or the court to take a hard view. Post the break, Sharma said his client will “add to the apology” a line stating, “I did not intend to insult any woman much less Professor…” The Judges told the Professor’s Advocate not to “fuss” over the apology as the Court will take care of it in its order.

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