Judicial panel cautions DU on appointing dubious persons as college chairpersons

A judicial committee report by a former Supreme Court judge among other issues has made startling revelations about the appointment of persons with dubious antecedents on the governing bodies of the prestigious colleges. The case in point relates to retired IAS officer Baleshwar Rai, who was appointed chairperson of the governing body of Kirori Mal College. The issue is more alarming as this college is maintained directly by the university and appointments made on the choice of the vice-chancellor, in this case Professor Dinesh Singh.

The report submitted by Justice AK Ganguly in no uncertain terms states that Baleshwar Rai was “not the most ideal man” to head the governing body of one of the better known colleges of the university which is presently undergoing a turmoil on the account of the decisions taken by Rai. 

Despite charges of sexual harassment and financial misconduct being probed against him, Rai was appointed as the chairman of governing body, thanks to his proximity to the vice-chancellor and a few members of his team. Rai first came into limelight when CBI’s anti-corruption branch started investigating him for corruption charges in 1996 when he was NDMC administrator. Post retirement he was involved in the management of a school – UPRAS Vidyalaya in the posh Vasant Vihar area. 

The inquiry report mentions that in 2007 an FIR was lodged against him in an alleged case of sexual harassment. The report says that Anjali Malik, a senior teacher in Chemistry Upras Vidyalaya had alleged Rai of sexual misbehaviour and also filed an FIR on the same matter. The case is on trial in a local Court. In 2012, another FIR was filed against Baleshwar Rai by management of the school theft, cheating and criminal breach of trust by public servant. Rai never appeared before the enquiry committee to answer these charges against him. More shocking is the revelation that a complaint was also made by school security supervisor against Rai of bringing a young girl at night inside the premises of Upras Vidalaya. Following this complaint, he was removed from management of that school for indulging in activities like “misappropriation of school funds, misconduct, immoral acts, involvement in criminal cases and misuse of power and position.”

Laying emphasis on caution in the appointment of persons on college governing bodies, Justice Ganguly in his report says that “any man of ordinary prudence would say that Baleshwar Rai , even if half the allegations against him are true, is the not the most ideal man to become the chairman of governing body of educational institutions.”