Jamia professor suspended over sexual harassment allegations | News from India

NEW DELHI: Following allegations of psychological and sexual harassment of a PhD supervisor at the Centre for Jawaharlal Nehru Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia by four research scholars, the university on Tuesday suspended the professor pending further investigation.

The first two complaints were submitted to the director of the center on May 9 and 13. They detailed the allegations against their research director and demanded a change of supervisor.

A second set of complaints was filed on 7 and 8 July.

In their complaints, the four women had accused the professor of “sexual harassment, lack of cooperation, disrespectful behavior, undisciplined, boorish behavior, and the use of uncivilized language.” Due to the alleged harassment, one of the researchers was also reportedly forced to abandon her doctoral program.

In its order, the university stated that the competent authority considered the matter to be “extremely serious” in view of the complaints and was of the opinion that “a detailed investigation” by its Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) was necessary.

The university stated that it wanted an “unbiased investigation by the responsible body” and had therefore “suspended the accused professor with immediate effect”.

The university also asked the professor not to visit the Centre for Jawaharlal Nehru Studies until further notice and not to leave the city without prior permission from the concerned authority.