Bengaluru: The Supreme Court has stayed a Karnataka High Court order directing disciplinary proceedings against Mohammad Mohsin, Additional Chief Secretary of the Medical Education Department, in connection with the suspension and subsequent reinstatement of SIMS professor Dr Ashwin Hebbar.
The Supreme Court passed the interim order while hearing a challenge by the Karnataka government and Mohsin against the High Court’s directions. The case relates to allegations of sexual harassment against Hebbar, an associate professor at the Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS).
The Karnataka High Court had directed disciplinary action against senior officials, including Mohsin and SIMS director Dr Virupakshappa, after examining the circumstances surrounding the revocation of Hebbar’s suspension. The High Court also directed that Hebbar remain under suspension and be attached to the Haveri Institute of Medical Sciences pending further proceedings.
Mohsin and the state government subsequently approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s order.
A bench headed by Justice Dipankar Datta has now stayed the High Court’s direction for the departmental inquiry against Mohsin. The court has also directed that the suspension order concerning Dr Hebbar remain in force until the matter is taken up again.
The proceedings stem from a dispute over the administrative decision to revoke Hebbar’s suspension and transfer him to the Haveri Institute of Medical Sciences while allegations against him were pending.
The Supreme Court’s interim order does not determine the merits of the allegations against Hebbar or the responsibility of the officials involved. The matter will be considered further at the next stage of proceedings.