Sexual harassment case: JNU professors demand separate FIRs

Eight women complained of sexual harassment against JNU professor Atul Johri.

Accusing the police of disregarding procedures, 54 professors of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Monday demanded registration of separate FIRs in all eight complaints of sexual harassment filed against a professor.

JNU professors also demanded separate statements of all the complainants to be recorded on Monday. (Ajay Aggarwal/HT File Photo)

They petitioned deputy commissioner of police (South-West) Milind Dumbere’s office two days after the Delhi Police registered an FIR against the professor following allegations of sexual harassment by a group of women students.

The teachers said eight complaints were filed by as many women students, however, the Delhi Police chose to register only one FIR based on only one of the complaints.

“Even though you have received eight complaints, each of which reports incidents that are distinct and separated by space and time, you have chosen to register only one FIR under only one of the names. We are shocked to learn this as the law requires that a separate FIR is registered for each complaint,” the petition said.

Such serious sexual offences are being treated in breach of law and the Supreme Court judgments on the matter, the professors said.

They also demanded separate statements of all the complainants be recorded on Monday.

“This disregard for even basic procedure suggests to us that the Delhi Police has no intention of seriously proceeding against the professor,” the petition said.

They also demanded the accused professor be not allowed to make any contact with the complainants.

“We seek an assurance from the Delhi Police to take measures to ensure that the accused professor is prevented from making any contact with the complainants,” they said.

They also said the DCP should intervene to ensure the complainants’ health and safety are safeguarded as they are facing, according to the professors, tremendous amount of pressure and intimidation to make them compromise.

The JNU Students Union which has been protesting for the past three days demanding arrest of the professor has announced a march to the Vasant Kunj Police Station today at 5pm.

Students of School of Life Sciences, with which the accused is associated, have locked down the school demanding his arrest.