Gujarat HC takes suo motu cognisance of allegations of queerphobia and rape at GNLU

The allegations reported by The Ahmedabad Mirror daily on September 22 involved the ordeals allegedly faced by two GNLU students in two separate incidents. In one, a student reported suffering mental trauma due to harassment meted out to him only for being queer. In the other incident, a female student alleged rape by a batchmate. The news report also referred to the university’s defunct Internal Complaints Committee.

The bench recorded that “the response of the GNLU spokesperson is also reported, which specifies non-receipt of formal complaint by the students”. Stating that the university administration appeared to have taken no action for want of a formal complaint, the bench observed that it did not seem to be the “correct approach” of dealing with such serious allegations.

The bench issued a notice to the registrar and the head of academic affairs and directed the university to “identify and record the statements of the students by maintaining total confidentiality”.

“The statement of the female student shall be recorded by a female member/professor of the university only. In case the allegations are found to be genuine and inspire confidence, then necessary steps as permissible under the law shall be taken immediately. Report shall be placed before this court by the next date of hearing. Names of members of ICC shall also be placed before this court,” the court directed. “This court shall also be apprised of the norms or SOP or regulations adopted by the university for dealing with issues of harassment or ragging meted out to the students.”

The university is expected to respond to the notice by October 10.