NCSC raps BBAU V-C, says he ‘lacks sensitivity’

LUCKNOW: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has said Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) vice-chancellor RC Sobti “lacks sensitivity” towards a woman Scheduled Caste petitioner.

On June 15, the BBAU registrar had lodged an FIR alleging that finance officer (FO) Rama Shankar Singh misbehaved with her. The NCSC also said the V-C “lacks maturity” in handling the incident of harassment at workplace with the registrar.

The NCSC made these observations after Sunita Chandra, the registrar, moved a petition with the commission, drawing its attention towards her sexual harassment on the campus.

The commission advised the secretary, ministry of human resource development, to issue an advisory to the V-C over his ‘failure to’ handle the sensitive issue of harassment and manhandling allegations levelled by the dalit registrar. The NCSC observed there were many instances when the V-C made contradictory statements to the commission. The fact that the finance officer (FO) has not issued a certified copy of the petitioners’ pay slip appears prima facie an unnecessary obstructive behaviour of the FO, said NCSC.

The commission empowered the secretary, MHRD, to take action against the FO. It asked Sobti to immediately take steps to extend all protection to the petitioner. The NCSC constituted a 3-member committee which will examine the matter and submit recommendations based on provisions contained in the Sexual harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act.