Sexual harassment case: Showcause notice slapped on accused teacher

NEWDELHI: The governing body of Delhi University’s (DU) Bharti College has issued a showcause notice to a faculty member who was found guilty of sexual harassment by the college’s internal complaints committee (ICC).THE governing body members will hold a meeting to take final decision in the matter on Monday.

According to a governing body member, the pane; has accepted the recommendation given by the ICC and decided to send the faculty member on ‘compulsory retirement’. “The governing body has accepted the recommendation, following which a showcause notice was served to the faculty member. In case he does not come up with a reply by Monday, we will take an ex-parte decision. Once the ICC’S report is officially approved by the governing body, it matter will be then sent to the vice-chancellor’s office,” the member said.

A student of Bharti College had written to vice-chancellor Yogesh Tyagi on February 6 to take action against a faculty member for allegedly harassing her over a period of time. She had accused the faculty member of sending her lewd messages and making obscene phone calls until she confronted him in April 2017 and recorded the act of confrontation. She had also submitted the video clip to the vicechancellor as evidence.

On Wednesday, a group of students held a protest at the campus alleging that the governing body was ‘deliberately’ going slow in accepting the recommendation of the ICC. However, governing body chairperson Ajay Gaur said that they are following due process. “We are conducting a fair probe. We will inform the students and the media about the final decision on Monday,” Gaur said.

THE GOVERNING BODY OF BHARTI COLLEGE MEMBERS WILL HOLD A MEETING TO TAKE FINAL DECISION IN THE MATTER ON MONDAY