Another DU professor is facing charges of sexual harrasment

The Times of India Delhi 13th Feb 2008 Page 6

‘Made Advances’ Towards Student, Probe On

There has been yet another complaint of sexual harassment in Delhi University. This time the man facing the allegation of making sexual advances towards his student is a senior professor in the department of geology. The complainant, a research student who was working with the professor, has said that she was forced to endure repeated sexual advances by the teacher.

Gurmeet Singh, proctor, admitted that they received the complaint a week ago. ‘‘An inquiry will be ordered before any action is taken,’’ he said. He refused to comment any further, saying it would be unfair to both parties to do so before the inquiry was conducted. He added that the matter would be referred to the sexual harassment committee in due course. Sources in the proctor’s office, meanwhile, confirmed that the complaint is being looked into by a proctorial committee, which will conduct the initial investigations. ‘‘Thereafter, the complaint will be sent to the sexual harassment committee which will decide on the punishment,’’ added the source.

According to sources, while the proctorial committee has talked to the professor, it is yet to talk to the girl. ‘‘The committee had fixed a meeting but she didn’t turn up for it. Now someone will be sent to her house so that another meeting can be set up,’’ added the source. The professor claims he is innocent and that the complaint was an act of vengeance since he had dismissed the student from a project. Speaking to TOI, the professor said: ‘‘The allegations are all baseless. The inquiry should be conducted as soon as possible so that the girl can be punished for libel.’’

It’s not the first time that a serious charge like sexual harassment has been levelled against a DU teacher. Earlier last year, two DU professors, one each from the Punjabi and Mathematics department, were dismissed from service on being found guilty of sexual harassment by the apex complaints committee of DU. Again, in October 2007, Prof. Bidyut Chakravarty was found guilty of the same and stripped of his post at Gandhi Bhavan in DU.

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