Grievance Redressal Cell

Presidency University is committed to providing a safe, fair and harmonious learning andwork environment. Grievance Redressal Cell was established at this university on 27 June 2016 in accordance with the University Grants Commission regulations 2012 (The Gazette ofIndia, March 23-29, 2013), and Article XXV of the constitution.

The aim of the Grievance Redressal Cell is to address the grievances of any stakeholder of this university in a fair and impartial manner, maintaining necessary confidentiality, as the case may be. Any stakeholder with a genuine grievance may approach Grievance Redressal Cell to submit his/her grievance in writing or send through e-mail on dean.students@presiuniv.ac.in

Objective

 To ensure a fair, impartial and consistent mechanism for redressal of varied issues faced by the stakeholders;

 To uphold the dignity of the University by promoting cordial Student-Student relationship, Student-teacher relationship, teacher-teacher relationship;

 To develop a responsive and accountable attitude among the stakeholders, there by maintaining a harmonious atmosphere in the University campus;

 To ensure that grievances are resolved promptly, objectively and with sensitivityand in complete confidentiality;

 To ensure that the views of each grievant and respondent are respected and that any party to a grievance is neither discriminated against nor victimized;

 To advise stakeholders to respect the right and dignity of one another, and notto behave in a vindictive manner towards any of them for any reason.

What is Grievance : Grievance means a formal complaint–includes any kind of discontent or dissatisfaction or negative perception, whether expressed or not, arising out of anything connected with University that a student or parent or staff member thinks, believes, or even feels, is unfair, unjust or inequitable.

Functions of the Committee

o To provide with proper advocacy to stakeholders to express their grievances freely without any fear of being victimized;

o To ensure that there is no reprisal of any kind against any applicant,witness, or any other participant in the grievance redressal process by reason of such participation in the grievance process.

o To analyse the merits of grievances and conduct formal hearings and investigation as the case may be

o To protect the privacy and confidentiality of all parties during the investigation, consistent with and subject to the policy guidelines;

o To obtain the facts through relevant sources in a fair and objective manner, to work out a resolution of the issues involved with the parties named in the grievance application;

o To ensure speedy disposal of every grievance application - within amaximum period of one month of the receipt of application;

Operating Procedure

Any student or parents or staff member wants to initiate a grievance may in the first instance bring the issue to the notice of the Head of the respective department/office, who will address the issue and try to resolve it within 7 working days of the receipt of the grievance.

If there is no response within the stipulated time from the respective department/office or grievant is dissatisfied with response/resolution to his/her grievance, then the grievant is free to represent his/her grievance to the University Grievance Redressal Cell.

If the grievance is against the respective Head department/office, then the grievant may directly submit his/her grievance in writing via email at dean.students@presiuniv.ac.in or submit in person at the Grievance Redressal Cell.

If the Grievance Redressal Committee is not satisfied with the resolution provided by the respective department/office/individual or upon the grievant’s written request, the committee shall fix a date for hearing, and intimate the same to the respective department/office/individual as well as the grievant via e-mail. If, at the conclusion of the hearing, the committee feels that additional information, testimony is necessary to make a decision, it may request that the parties submit such additional information. In this event, the hearing will remain open until receipt of the requested documents(s).

If a resolution is not achieved through hearing, then it will take necessary steps to conduct an investigation (fair and impartial investigation) of thefacts giving rise to the grievance as it determines necessary to reach a conclusion on the merits of the grievance application. Grievance Redressal Committee will have the right to interview witnesses, if, it determines necessary and/or helpful to the investigation including those recommended by a party to the grievance.

After the hearing or investigation the Grievance Redressal Committee shall use its best efforts to work out a resolution of the issues involved with the parties named in the grievance application – pass an order indicating thereasons for such order, as may be deemed fit.

The complaint shall be considered as disposed off and closed when:

a. the grievant has indicated acceptance of the resolution;

b. the grievant has not responded within four weeks from the date of receipt of information on resolution

The proceeding concerning each grievance will be recorded in a systematic manner. The information relating to the proceedings shall be treated as confidential.