JMI professor suspended for “sexual harassment”

NEW DELHI: The Jamia Milla Islamia has suspended a professor and ordered an inquiry into complaints of sexual harassment against him by four doctoral students, one of whom had her admission revoked.

The university’s acting vice-chancellor Mohammad Shakeel ordered the suspension of the professor invoking his emergency powers and referred the inquiry to the university’s internal complaints committee, an order said. The suspended professor has been barred from attending classes until the investigation is completed and has been asked to mark his attendance at the office of the chief proctor until further notice.

The students claimed that the professor used “rude and uncivilized language” towards them during a lecture and also made sexual advances towards them.

According to the suspension order dated July 16, “four doctoral students of the Centre for Jawaharlal Nehru Studies, JMI, have made allegations and specifically complained of sexual harassment, lack of cooperation, disrespectful behaviour and undisciplined, uncouth and uncivilised language used by the professor.”

“In view of the above and the seriousness of the matter, one of the students (name not mentioned) was even deprived of her admission to the doctoral program due to the behavior of the professor,” the university’s order states.

The accused professor could not be reached for comment. The order also prohibits the professor from leaving the city during the suspension period without permission from the relevant authority, the order states.