The Allahabad high court recently stayed the inquiry under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, commonly known as the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act against a professor in the department of electrical engineering, IIT-Kanpur, during the pendency of a special appeal.
The professor allegedly gave an object described as a ‘sex toy’ to a female intern who was working on a summer project related to vibration bands. On the victim’s complaint, an inquiry under the POSH Act was initiated against the professor.
The bench comprising Justice SD Singh and Justice Swarupama Chaturvedi passed the order in a special appeal filed by the IIT-Kanpur. Earlier, the professor had approached the high court by filing a writ petition challenging the order of his compulsory retirement by the IIT. The single judge bench directed to reinstate the professor but directed to continue the inquiry against him. Against this order, IIT Kanpur filed the special appeal.
It was alleged that the professor gave the female intern an objectionable object, described by the intern as a ‘sex toy,’ during summer research.
According to counsel for the professor, the research project involved study of vibration to facilitate non-verbal communication described as “Arm-band Vibration Communication Gadget” being developed for the armed forces and silent operations.
{{/usCountry}}According to counsel for the professor, the research project involved study of vibration to facilitate non-verbal communication described as “Arm-band Vibration Communication Gadget” being developed for the armed forces and silent operations.
{{/usCountry}}The court in its order dated August 20 observed, “Matter requires consideration. Parties may exchange further affidavits. Until further order of the Court, the operation and effect of the impugned judgment dated 05.01.2026, to the extent further inquiry has been permitted to be conducted during the pendency of this appeal, shall remain stayed.”