Ex-NID faculty moves Gujarat High Court against sacking

Justice KM Thaker of the Gujarat high court issued notice to the National Institute of Design (NID) in connection with the sacking of a 38-year-old woman professor who had complained against a hostel warden for passing sexist remarks. Her petition will come up for further hearing next month.

Deepa Chalke, professor, Apparel Design and Merchandising department of NID, Gandhinagar, had complained against the warden of the boys' hostel on the Gandhinagar campus. Later, on Feb 22, she was sacked from service with immediate effect.

Through her counsel Mukul Sinha, Chalke has moved the high court against her sacking. She has said in her petition that the institute had terminated her service without giving any reasons.

On February 23, Chalke submitted an application before the institute's authorities challenging her termination. She stated in her application that her service was terminated without assigning any reasons and that she had not been given an opportunity to be heard. The institute constituted a review committee on February 29 but the committee upheld her sacking and rejected her application. Chalke was appointed professor on Aug 22, 2011 for two years.