Karnataka HC orders enquiry against officials who revoked suspension of professor accused of sexual harassment
The High Court of Karnataka has ordered a departmental enquiry against two senior government officials for their role in revoking the suspension of an associate professor accused of sexually harassing a postgraduate medical student. The court also directed that the accused, Ashwin Hebbar K., remain suspended until the enquiry against him is completed.
The officials are Mohammad Mohsin, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Medical Education, and Virupakshappa V., Director of Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS). The enquiry relates to their decision to revoke Dr. Hebbar's suspension on November 17, 2025, just four-and-a-half months after he was suspended on July 3, 2025.
A Division Bench comprising Justice D.K. Singh and Justice T.M. Nadaf passed the order while dismissing petitions filed by Dr. Hebbar challenging his transfer to Haveri Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS). The Bench also allowed an appeal by SIMS against a single judge's order that had stayed the transfer.
The court observed that the officials were 'totally insensitive to the honour, dignity, humiliation, harassment, and sexual abuse suffered by the student.' It ordered that Dr. Hebbar be attached to HIMS until the departmental enquiry is completed.
The case stems from a complaint filed in June 2025 by a second-year postgraduate student, who alleged that Dr. Hebbar inappropriately touched her during a dinner party. He was arrested on June 26, 2025, released on bail on July 4, 2025, and placed under suspension on July 3, 2025.
The Bench noted that this was the second allegation of sexual harassment against Dr. Hebbar. In an earlier case in 2022, he was accused of inappropriately touching a junior resident. The court noted that the POSH Act panel allegedly pressured the victim to withdraw her statement before closing the case.
In the present case, the Bench found that Dr. Hebbar sought revocation of his suspension on July 21, 2025, and that several politicians and NGOs made representations in his favour. The court said the Additional Chief Secretary 'buckled under pressure' and asked the SIMS director to recommend revocation.
The director recommended revoking the suspension, citing that its continuation was unnecessary, caused financial burden on the government, and caused hardship to Dr. Hebbar. The director also noted that Dr. Hebbar had performed 1,029 surgeries, including 387 cancer surgeries, between 2021 and June 2025, and that his reinstatement would benefit patients.
The court pointed out that the suspension was revoked even before the maximum six-month period prescribed under the Karnataka Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1957. This period applies in cases where a departmental enquiry has not been initiated or a chargesheet has not been filed.
Referring to the medical professional, the Bench said he is 'a wolf in white coat' and observed that the National Medical Commission should act in addition to the present proceedings. The court added that his licence to practise should be cancelled if he is found guilty.
