Karnataka High Court Stays Financial Impropriety Probe Against IIM-Bangalore Professor Who Levelled Allegations Of Caste Bias

The Karnataka High Court has by interim order stayed the operation of an Enquiry Committee constituted by the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore, to probe allegations of financial impropriety in raising travel claim bills against one of its Associate Professors.

A single judge bench of Justice B M Shyam Prasad passed the interim order on the petition filed by Gopal Das. The professor had previously complained against the Director, Dean of Faculty concerned and one of the Members of the Standing Disciplinary Committee, of being humiliated because of his caste.

Counsel for the petitioner informed the Court that the Director and Dean of IIMB have filed a civil suit against Das, seeking to injunct him from making public statements through media.

Emphasising on the complaint filed by Das, it was claimed that he has been repeatedly humiliated and denied promotion though duly qualified with necessary credentials. His complaint has been forwarded to the President of India, and upon the communication from the President's Office, the Civil Rights Enforcement Directorate is investigating the complaint after the orders of the Chief Secretary.

It was claimed that the constitution of the Committee to look into Das' alleged financial impropriety is made only as a counter and to gain a bargaining position, subject to the outcome of the investigation by the Civil Rights Enforcement Directorate.

The Court perused the record and considering the submissions ordered, “To ensure that there is no precipitation, the operation of the impugned Communication dated 24.06.2024 [Annexure-D] of the second respondent, and consequentially further proceedings by the Committee constituted as indicated therein, are stayed until the next date of hearing. There shall be Emergent Notice returnable within three weeks to the respondents.”

Case Title: Gopal Das AND Indian Institute of Management Bangalore & ANR

Case No: WP 18056/2024

Appearance: Advocate Y H Vijaykumar for petitioner.

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