Assistant Professor alleges fraud and mental harassment by Dev Samaj College of Education management regarding employment

Assistant Professor alleges fraud and mental harassment by Dev Samaj College of Education management regarding employment

Chandigarh 16 June ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : An Assistant Professor has leveled allegations of fraud, misleading assurances, and mental harassment against a prestigious educational institution in Chandigarh. The Assistant Professor claims that despite being selected during the recruitment process, she was made to work for four months without pay by the college principal. When she objected, the principal not only behaved rudely but also threatened her with dire consequences. She appealed to various authorities—including the President of India, the Chandigarh Administrator, the Education Secretary, and the Vigilance Department—regarding the fraud and mental harassment she endured, yet she has received no justice so far, resulting in financial and mental distress. She presented all evidence and facts regarding this matter to the media.

Speaking to journalists at the Chandigarh Press Club, Assistant Professor Simran Kaur stated that she is an alumna of Dev Samaj College of Education. She has been a meritorious student throughout her academic journey, achieving notable successes such as securing a merit position in the Post Graduate Diploma (Panjab University rank) and ranking 4th in Panjab University and 1st in the U.T. Chandigarh region for her M.Ed. Additionally, she holds a degree from the Music Department of Panjab University. According to Kaur, the college had advertised a vacancy for the post of Assistant Professor. In accordance with the requirements, the Chandigarh Employment Exchange forwarded the names of several candidates—including hers—to the college. The selection committee subsequently selected her for the position. Following her selection, she arrived on the scheduled date to join duty. The college principal, Ignis Dhillon, was delighted that an alumna had been selected; she expressed her happiness and offered her blessings, subsequently assigning Kaur to teach students at two different government schools in Chandigarh.

She began her service the very next day. During this period, she even represented the college at a two-day training program organized by the UGC. After serving for three to four months, when she spoke to Principal Ignis Dhillon about her salary, the Principal bluntly told her that she was not even an employee of the college. She was ordered to leave the premises, and instructions were issued to the gatekeeper to deny her entry. When she, accompanied by her family, met Principal Ignis Dhillon the following day regarding this deception, the Principal stated categorically that since she was not an employee, there was no question of an appointment letter or salary. This came as a shock to the entire family. She spoke of lodging a complaint with senior officials in the Education Department and the Chandigarh Administration. In response, Ignis Dhillon threatened her, telling her to do whatever she could; she claimed to have high-level connections and asserted that she neither feared nor cared about the consequences. The family was deeply distressed that the Principal could treat a former, meritorious student of the college in such a manner. 

She sought redress for the deception she had faced by approaching the Education Secretary, the Vigilance Department, and other senior officials, yet she found no justice anywhere; her complaint merely shuffled from one desk to another within the bureaucracy. Finally, in desperation, she appealed to the Honorable President of India for justice. Taking cognizance of her grievance, the President's office directed the Chandigarh Administrator to take immediate action. Acting on the directive from the President's office, the Chandigarh Administrator instructed Education Secretary Prerna Puri to investigate the matter. Upon being summoned, she visited the Education Secretary's office and recounted her ordeal with a heavy heart. After listening to her, the Education Secretary ordered officials from the Education Department to take immediate cognizance of the issue. Officials from the Education Department summoned her to hear her grievance but took no action; instead, relying on misleading information provided by the college management, they held her responsible. Her entire family is devastated by the deception they have faced. They have been running from pillar to post seeking justice and are now at a loss as to what to do next.

According to Assistant Professor Simran Kaur, the information provided by Dev College of Education regarding salary, service conditions, and other perks prior to her appointment did not match reality. She alleges that despite repeated attempts to contact the college management, her grievances were never satisfactorily resolved. Simran Kaur has urged Education Secretary Prerna Puri to order an impartial inquiry into the matter and take appropriate action. She stated that she is prepared to take further steps to protect her rights if necessary. She and her family are shattered by the mental harassment they have endured.When our reporter called the college principal to speak to her, she did not pick up the phone.