PRAYAGRAJ, Dec. 25 -- The Allahabad high court has observed that the termination of a Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT)-Allahabad lecturer for a consensual relationship with a student was shockingly disproportionate.

With this observation, the high court, in its judgment dated December 16, quashed the 19-year-old dismissal order of the teacher of the institute. The dismissal order was dated February 28, 2006. The court remanded the matter to the competent authority to reconsider the quantum of punishment in accordance with law.

The lecturer was accused of emotional and physical harassment by an ex-student.

The court further observed that the relationship with student amounted to misconduct and not sexual harassment...