Srinagar, May 24, KDC: Kashmir University administration on Wednesday ordered immediate removal of Director Institute of Kashmir studies (IKS) for his ‘rowdy’ behavior.
Tareek Rather Director IKS was removed from his chair after he allegedly assaulted his subordinate in the institute. The charge of Director IKS has been handed over to Vice Chancellor. Rather who is also accused of ‘sexual harassment’ took over as the director IKS last year in violation of ICC norms.
“Rather beat-up his subordinate who approached the Vice Chancellors office who after passionate hearing ordered the immediate removal of Director IKS” sources told Kashmir Dot Com.
The complaints of assault and harassment against Rather were also received earlier when he was director of CCAS.
Earlier, a PhD Scholar who was working under his (Tareek Rather) supervision besides complaining of harassment accused Rather of uncouth and unruly behavior but the complaints were ignored by university administration then.
Following the Sexual Harassment case Internal Complaints Committee directed Tareek Rather to strictly adhere to the gender sensitive behavior while dealing with female scholars instead of directly recommending punishment as per ICC norms.
Sources said that “It is being said that Rather was also involved in an infamous assault of former Dean Social Sciences M Yousuf Ganie who was assaulted by former HoD political sciences and his nephew.”
After the current incident of unruly behavior on part of a ‘Professor’ questions are being raised over the academic system inside the university which according to insiders demands immediate attention.
Insiders told Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com that a group of ‘politically linked’ university teachers are trying to disrupt the academic environment inside the university by harassing and creating disturbances in different departments.
“This incident is a tip of an iceberg, there are many so called professors who are creating fuss inside departments for their ulterior motives, junior and talented professors are being harassed in many ways, academic excellence has been choked and university has gone to dogs”
“LG administration should verify the antecedents of all such university teachers who are still stick to rowdy behavior in view of their previous political linkages” University teachers wishing anonymity said, adding “The only way to clean university of muck is to crush the lobbyism and remove dead wood from university.”
Registrar KU, Dr Nissar confirmed to KDC that Tareek Rather, Director IKS has submitted his resignation on Monday. However, Nissar said “I don’t know anything about the incident that had happened at the university. If there is any allegation against the director, the same will be probed, he added.
Insiders said that Tareek Rather was ‘forcibly’ removed from the post citing his ‘rowdy’ behaviour. (KDC)
