Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen),Sept 18: An associate professor from the Economics department at Utkal University, Odisha, was in Wednesday suspended following allegations of molestation made by a female postgraduate student. The suspension came after a probe report by the university’s internal complaints committee was submitted to the Vice-Chancellor.
Sources indicate that the professor has been instructed not to leave the university premises without the Vice-Chancellor’s permission.
The student alleged that on August 16, she was sexually harassed by the professor while visiting his office to collect some books. She reported that he also threatened her not to disclose the incident.
Initially, the university’s Sexual Harassment Cell did not take action on the written complaint submitted by the student. The matter was later referred to the internal complaints committee, which conducted an investigation and submitted its findings to the Vice-Chancellor.
Additionally, a rights activist has approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) regarding the case, seeking further action.
