Overview
- The education department dismissed three assistant professors Thursday after internal probes found sexual harassment of students.
- Secretary Rakesh Kanwar signed the orders for Virender Sharma, Dr Anil Kumar, and Pawan Kumar from colleges in Shimla, Hamirpur, and Chamba.
- Investigators cited three incidents: repeated inappropriate touching during a November 14, 2024 chemistry practical, months of harassment with an attempted molestation of a fine arts student in January 2024, and a December 2021 case with messages and an attempt at forced contact.
- Each officer was first suspended, then charged under Rule 14 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, and finally dismissed under Rule 11 after findings that upheld the complaints, with ICC recommendations in the fine arts case.
- The orders also bar the men from government employment and stress campus safety to restore trust in the teacher–student relationship across state colleges.