Sexual harassment of MBBS student: L-G proposes suspension of accused professor

NOTING THAT “mere transfer” was not enough, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) VK Saxena Saturday proposed the suspension of a professor accused of sexually harassing an MBBS student at a Delhi government-run medical college during viva examination in January this year.

The student, in her police complaint, had said that the professor had “touched her inappropriately” as well as asked “irrelevant questions” during the exam. She had first reported the incident to her college authorities on January 31 after which the college formed an internal complaints committee (ICC). The probe suggested the transfer of the accused professor to another college.

In his proposal of suspension, L-G Saxena said that a “mere transfer of the doctor concerned to another college, as recommended by the ICC, does not mitigate the intimidating atmosphere for the students since the act involves moral turpitude.”

He further stated: “I approve

L-G V K Saxena

the proposal to place the Officer under suspension with immediate effect, under Rule 10 of the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965.”

Reacting to the suspension, the Aam Aadmi Party (Aap)-run Delhi government said it was disheartening to see that “it took the L-G more than two months to take action in the case, which was constantly raised by Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj”.

Currently, the accused professor is reporting to the Delhi government secretariat.

“Our medical students were exploited on 31st January. Many officers tried to save the culprits and made excuses. The Chief Secretary also kept making excuses. I had also decided that until action is taken, I will keep after L-G sir over this. Eventually, the guilty professor was suspended. L-G sahab must introspect as to why there was so much delay,” Bharadwaj said in a post on X following the development.