E-Paper
NLIU professor resigns after students allege sexual harassment, probe on
Some students said that he would send them messages on Valentines Day making them uncomfortable, and ask them to meet him because he felt lonely.
A professor at the National Law Institute University has stepped down after a group of students accused him of harassment, and met chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan seeking a high level inquiry. The students have alleged that the professor (who is not being named by Hindustan Times till an inquiry is complete) would send inappropriate messages and videos to women students, and ask them to meet him at his residence. The police have begun an inquiry into the matter but no official complaint has been registered.
In their meeting with chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the group of at least 20 final year students claimed that the professor has harassed “countless” women students in the university over the last two decades. “Many students didn’t file complaints due to the stigma associated with such things but things are now getting worse. He would send obscene messages and videos to girl students and ask them to meet him at his office. A high-level inquiry should be conducted in the matter,” the students said.
Some students said that he would send them messages on Valentines Day making them uncomfortable, and ask them to meet him because he felt lonely.
Bhopal police commissioner Makrand Deoskar said, “A female deputy superintendent of police (DSP) officer is investigating the matter. A case will be registered after an inquiry.” The DSP (crime against women cell) Nidhi Saxena said that thus far the students have shown hesitancy in filing a police complaint. “We are counselling them, and conducting inquiries,” she said.
Speaking to media persons, NLIU vice-chancellor V Vijaykumar said that a group of students filed a complaint against the professor with the university on Thursday. “They said that he has sexually harassed girl students and after the allegation, an inquiry has been ordered and the professor has been asked to resign,” he said.
The professor denied the allegations and said that he has never faced such accusations in his 23-year tenure. “Students and colleagues are targeting me for the past two years because I am the chairperson of the purchase committee and work as per the rules. I have sent messages to students to help them during online classes. I only told them that if they had any difficulties, they could come to my office to clear concepts. A few times, I have sent normal messages of greeting and no court of law can say it is sexual harassment.”
He added that he had been forced to resign without a fair inquiry. A group of students backing him have written to the vice chancellor about “humiliating treatment” meted out to the professor and that his image was being tarnished on the basis of unproven allegations.
