Rejoinder
This rejoinder is issued in response to a news item published by an online news portal,
Legally India, titled “NLU Assam VC JS Patil denies, files counter FIR vs neighbours’ sex
harass allegations, claims backing of CJ-chancellor”, published on Saturday, 25th July,
2020. The news item focuses on the FIR filed by 18 female residents of the locality in which
Prof. (Dr.) J.S. Patil, Vice-Chancellor of National Law University and Judicial Academy
(NLUJA), Assam resides. The FIR has reportedly been filed under Sections 294, 354A and
509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which covers obscene acts, sexual harassment and words
or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman.
In the interview, Prof. Patil refutes historical allegations of using harassing language with
female faculty members as well as using sexist language while talking to female faculty
members. This statement of Prof. Patil is vehemently contested here. In the past, Prof. Patil
has made sexist remarks and used sexually harassing language with the members of the
faculty, both female and male. The faculty members had duly submitted a petition on
December 14, 2016 detailing the sexually harassing language used by Prof. Patil to the then
Hon’ble Chancellor of National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam, Justice Shri
Ajit Singh. Justice Singh along with Justice Shri Hrishikesh Roy, the then member of the
General Council of the University, had intervened and taken steps to ameliorate the sufferings
of the faculty members.
Further, Prof. Patil states that allegations that he had used harassing language with female
faculty members, had all been made to “tarnish the image of me and my University” and on
being asked to respond to using sexist language in talking to female faculty members, he said
that the accusation is absolutely wrong. This is to make it clear that the petition submitted by
the faculty members to the then Hon’ble Chancellor of the University regarding the sexually
harassing language being used by him was not done to tarnish the reputation of the University
but to be provided with a distress free environment at our workplace.
When the alumni of our University brought it to our notice that a post has been made by a
person on the Facebook page of National Law University and Judicial Academy Model
United Nations imputing allegations of sexual harassment committed against the said
persons’ mother and younger sister by the Vice Chancellor of our University, Prof. Patil, we

 immediately approached the Registrar of our University, Mr. Miftahuddin Ahmed, ACS and
requested him to take necessary action to safeguard the interest of the University. We
believed that irrespective of its credibility and veracity, the allegation is detrimental to the
interest and reputation of the University. The Registrar asked for our suggestion as to what
step should be taken. In response, we had suggested that the truth needs to come out for
which police investigation is imperative and that he should file an FIR bringing the matter to
the notice of the police authorities, to which he agreed and requested us to assist him in
drafting the FIR. However, when we went to provide him with a draft as requested by him the
next day, the Registrar imputed that members of the faculty, administration and students are
conspiring against the Vice-Chancellor. We duly registered our protest against the unfounded
allegations levelled against us by the Registrar to him immediately. We also reported our
concerns to relevant bodies, viz. General Council of our University, Executive Council of our
University and Assam State Commission for Women.
Importantly, the flagrant manner in which Prof. Patil claims to have the support of the
Hon’ble Chancellor of the University i.e. the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Gauhati High
Court, in the above cited interview is disturbing and distressing. Such a statement would
intimidate, demoralize and frighten the complainants and all those who have raised their
concern on this matter. Such a statement may also raise concerns on whether a fair
investigation of the matter would take place. We believe it is inappropriate on the part of
Prof. Patil to make such statements of having the support of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the
Gauhati High Court when investigation on the matter has been duly initiated by the police.
Lastly, the false, unfounded and defamatory allegations made against us in the abovementioned news item on Legally India consternates us, and we hereby strongly condemn,
contest and repudiate the allegations made against us by Prof. Patil. We have already reported
the same to the National Commission for Women.
Yours sincerely,

 Dr. Diptimoni Boruah

Dr. Topi Basar

Mr. Thangzakhup Tombing

Dr. Kasturi Gakul

Dr. Gitanjali Ghosh

Mr. Himangshu Ranjan Nath

Ms. Namrata Gogoi

Dr. Mayengbam Nandakishwor Singh

Dr. Ishrat Hussain

Mr. Saheb Chowdhury

Mr. Chiradeep Basak

Ms. Aparajita Dutta Hazarika

Dr. Nandarani Choudhury