In his first interaction with the media after taking charge, the new Vice-Chancellor of Lucknow University Prof M K Mishra sought to wash his hands of a decision to reinstate a professor facing criminal charges, including one of attempt to murder, saying it was taken by the Executive Council, which has eminent people on board.

The decision to bring back Prof G S Bhadouria, who has done four months in jail for allegedly hiring a criminal to attack one of his colleagues, was taken yesterday at an Executive Council meeting.

“It was not my decision alone. Important persons like Additional Solicitor General of India were present in the meeting and they took the decision after looking into all aspects of the matter,” said Prof Mishra.

Prof Bhadouria, who was suspended for the fourth time in January 2008, has criminal cases pending against him in court, besides complaints of indiscipline from head of department of ancient Indian history.

He had been earlier suspended following charges of sexual harassment of a student and using words with sexual overtones for a female colleague. He was booked under the Gangster Act for the alleged murder bid on another professor.

Additional Solicitor General Ashok Nigam, who is also an Executive Council member, said the registrar never informed the EC about the case under the Gangster Act.

“We had no information on the Gangster Act against him. So far as the cases are concerned, no provision of the University Act says a teacher should be suspended for pending criminal cases unless he is convicted.”

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