The Allahabad High Court has set aside the suspension of Professor Shail Kumar Chaube of the Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), and directed the university’s Executive Council to reconsider the matter within two weeks.
Justice C.D. Singh passed the order while disposing of Professor Chaube’s petition challenging the university’s action. The court directed BHU to place the entire record relating to his suspension before the Executive Council and instructed the body to pass a reasoned order after granting him an opportunity of hearing.
The petitioner’s counsel argued that a division bench of the high court had earlier set aside Professor Chaube’s compulsory retirement. Despite that relief, the university subsequently placed him under suspension.
On behalf of BHU, senior advocate Ajeet Kumar Singh submitted that the Executive Council has already been constituted and that the matter would be placed before it for a fresh decision. The petitioner’s counsel further requested that the Council consider the observations made by the court in the 2024 Special Appeal Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi & Ors. vs. Shail Kumar Chaube.
Accepting this request, the court held: “The impugned order dated June 26, 2025, passed by the Registrar with the approval of the Vice-Chancellor, is set aside to the extent of suspension of the petitioner.”
Professor Chaube had earlier faced disciplinary proceedings over allegations of making “undignified” remarks targeting students. Following a 2018 inquiry by BHU’s internal complaint committee, disciplinary action was initiated, eventually leading to his suspension and other measures.
The court emphasized that the Executive Council must take an expeditious and reasoned decision after providing the professor a fair chance to present his case. The order, dated September 16, was made public on September 24.
