Jamia Millia Islamia has suspended a professor and initiated an inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment made by four PhD scholars, one of whom was forced to cancel her admission.
The acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Mohammad Shakeel, issued the suspension order using his emergency powers and referred the case to the Internal Complaints Committee of the university. The professor has been prohibited from conducting classes while the inquiry is ongoing and is required to mark his attendance at the chief proctor’s office until further notice.
The students have accused the professor of using “uncouth and uncivilised language” during a lecture and making inappropriate sexual advances.
According to the suspension order dated July 16, “four Ph.D. scholars from the Centre for Jawaharlal Nehru Studies, JMI, have filed specific complaints of sexual harassment, non-cooperation, disrespectful behavior, and the use of undisciplined, uncouth, and uncivilized language by the professor.” The order also notes that the severity of the matter is underscored by the fact that one student (name not disclosed) had to cancel her Ph.D. admission due to the professor’s conduct.
The professor was unavailable for comment.
The order further restricts the professor from leaving the city without prior approval from the competent authority during the suspension period.
