NCW panel blames BHU admin for harassment

TheNationalCommissionforWomen(NCW)hasfound glaring lapses onthepartof Benaras Hindu University (BHU) authorities in responding to sexual harassment complaint of a girl student that resulted in violence that erupted in the college campus in September.

In its report submitted to the Union Human Resource and Development(HRD)ministrylast week, the two-member committeeheaded by NCW chairperson Rekha Sharmahassaidthat had theBHUvice-chancellor reacted on time and listened to students’ complaints, the violence that erupted in BHU campus in Septembercouldhavebeenavoided.

SourcessaidtheHRDministry is looking into the report andhas also expedited the process of appointmentofanewV-C.Under fire for his handling of protests Tripathihadproceededonleave, citing personal reasons.

Initsreport,theNCWfactfinding team also said that incidents of harassment such as eve-teasingofgirlstudentsinthecampus were rampant, perpetuated mainlybyillegaloccupantsinthe campus hostels.

NCW is a statutory body formed to protect and promote the interest of women.

In September students had staged a protest against the allegedinactiononthecomplaint and were cane-charged by the police.Theallegedsexualharassment victim, a hosteller at BHU, hadlodgedthecomplaintwiththe vice-chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi. She was allegedly molestedbymenonmotorcycles. Thestudentshadalsoaccusedthe proctor of not taking their complaintseriously.Theyweremore upsetwhenTripathi blamedthe complainantforstayingoutlate.

NEWDELHI: