Shimla, April 17
The Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday dismissed three assistant professors accused of sexually assaulting students in separate incidents and barred them from future government employment, officials said. The action follows complaints filed between 2021 and 2024, as well as subsequent departmental proceedings. According to reports, The dismissal orders were issued by Secretary (Education) Rakesh Kanwar following the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings in each case.
The dismissed faculty members have been identified as Pawan Kumar, Assistant Professor of Kathak Dance at Jawahar Lal Nehru Government College of Fine Arts, Loharab in Shimla, who was later posted in Government College, Dharamshala, Dr Anil Kumar, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Sidharth Government College in Nadaun in Hamirpur district, and Dr Virender Sharma, Assistant Professor at Rajiv Gandhi Government Degree College, Chaura Maidan in Shimla.
According to officials, a seventh-semester student of the Fine Arts College had, on January 23, 2024, accused Pawan Kumar of sexually assaulting her over a period of seven months and alleged that he had taken her to his residence. He was subsequently suspended by the Directorate of Higher Education on August 31, 2024.
In another case, a BSc student of Sidharth Government College alleged on November 14, 2024, that Dr. Anil Kumar repeatedly touched her inappropriately during a practical class. She also accused him of further misconduct, following which she filed a formal complaint. He was suspended on November 27, 2024.
Separately, a second-year BSc student of Rajiv Gandhi Government Degree College accused Dr. Virender Sharma of sending her inappropriate messages in December 2021. She further alleged that he called her to meet him near the college, took her to his residence, and attempted to sexually assault her. The student said he later dropped her off near the college and warned her not to disclose the incident. He was suspended on December 7, 2021.
Officials said that after examining the complaints and related proceedings, the state government issued orders dismissing all three from service and debarring them from any future employment in the government sector.
