IIT Ropar: Faculty ‘harassment’, forced resignation, a self-argued case – how a scholar won her PhD seat back

Fatima Maqsood has won. A first-year PhD scholar at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar’s chemistry department, she had ‘resigned’ from that role last winter following complaints of alleged harassment by faculty members. The High Court of Punjab and Haryana first held that her resignation was “not voluntary” and ordered the institute to reinstate her; last week, IIT Ropar withdrew its petition appealing that verdict.

Maqsood resigned in November 2025, at the end of the first year, “under compelling circumstances” after she complained against multiple incidents of harassment from the faculty members of her department – complaints on which, she said, no action was taken. She filed a writ petition in April 2026.

The court had pronounced the judgement on her petition in May 2026, setting aside her resignation as “not voluntary” and asked the institute to “sympathetically consider all circumstances and try to create an atmosphere allowing her to resettle and complete her studies” . However, IIT Ropar challenged the ruling before the high court’s division bench in June 2026. But on September 10, 2026 – the day the case was listed for judgement – the institute withdrew its appeal, and the high court order stood.

The IIT Ropar PhD scholar also gave an undertaking in court that she would not make any further complaints and shall focus on her studies, the judgement added. She told Careers360, “The resignation was submitted under acute distress rather than a genuine desire to abandon my research. However, the high court recognised the involuntary nature of the resignation and set it aside, affirming my right to resume my doctoral research peacefully.”

IIT Ropar’s PRO told Careers360: “IIT Ropar has withdrawn the matter in compliance with the high court's order on Maqsood's reinstatement on consideration of her undertaking. The institute is taking the necessary administrative steps as directed by the court.” It added: “Her PhD will be reinstated in compliance with the high court's order. As per the institute's academic rules, her doctoral committee, including her supervisor, will continue as it was constituted.”

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IIT Ropar: PhD scholar fighting for herself

Maqsood had a lawyer for the initial writ petition, but when IIT Ropar moved to the division bench, she chose to appear “in-party” and argue her own case. “The pro-bono legal aid lawyer wasn't able to communicate the full picture of my case, which I wanted. Hence, at that crucial juncture, I decided to take on the responsibility of representing myself in court as a party-in-person,” she said.

“It was a demanding journey that required immense resilience. Although I was granted relief by the single judge, who set aside the resignation in the initial writ petition, the institute chose to challenge that decision before the division bench. I presented the complete facts and after a long and thorough discussion in court, the decision was reserved for September 10. In the morning, the director of IIT Ropar, through their counsel, officially withdrew the appeal against the single-judge order,” Maqsood said.

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IIT Ropar: Faculty harassment case

According to the judgement, IIT Ropar director scolded the faculty members named in Maqsood’s complaint, but the alleged behaviour continued. “I have experienced multiple incidents of harassment from the faculty members of the chemistry department. The situation escalated severely when they went so far as to send me to PGI,” the judgement recorded her as saying.

Her resignation letter cited in the judgement read, “ I am officially resigning from my position due to the continued misbehavior and misconduct. Their actions have caused undue harassment to both me and my 67-year-old father with no relief. Under these circumstances, I find it impossible to continue, and therefore I am compelled to resign.”

The court highlighted that Maqsood had raised the harassment complaint on November 21 and resigned on November 22, which was accepted the very same day. When IIT Ropar sought to have her petition dismissed, the court specifically asked the institute if she was served any notice of “misconduct or indiscipline activities”, which it denied. It also stated that Maqsood’s complaint was “never redressed”.

Even her supervisor did little to help. The judgement noted: “The contents of her resignation was not simpliciter resignation, rather it was submitted under compelling circumstances. The supervisor, instead of taking care of the future of the student, on the very same day, with a lightning speed, recommended the acceptance of the resignation, which was endorsed by the head of department and finally, by the registrar.”

The court observed that this shows the institute was in a “hurry to get rid” of Maqsood. It stated that she requested her withdrawal which was kept pending for three months, pushing her to move court.

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IIT Ropar Harassment: Who is Fatima Maqsood?

Maqsood hails from a modest middle-class background with no financial cushion. “My father is retired from a private company and is quite old. Also, my stipend had been discontinued, leaving me with no option but to represent myself in court.” Unfamiliar with legal terminology, she said navigating this complex process as a layperson has been challenging.

However, watching the truth prevail in court, her faith in the rule of law has been restored.