Women’s Commission chairperson demands suspension of AU professor

Taking strong exception to granting of bail to Andhra University Sanskrit HoD K Yedukondalu who is facing the allegations of sexual harassment APWC demanded suspension of the professor.
Women’s Commission chairperson Nannapaneni Rajakumari speaking to students of AU Sanskrit Department in Vizag on Monday | Express
Women’s Commission chairperson Nannapaneni Rajakumari speaking to students of AU Sanskrit Department in Vizag on Monday | Express

VISAKHAPATNAM: Taking strong exception to granting of bail to Andhra University Sanskrit HoD K Yedukondalu who is facing the allegations of sexual harassment of the girl students, Andhra Pradesh Women’s Commission chairperson Nannapaneni Rajakumari on Monday demanded suspension of the professor.

A week after the allegations were made against the AU professor, Nannapaneni Rajakumari visited the Sanskrit Department on Monday morning and interacted with the girl students whose statements have been recorded by the probe committee formed to investigate into the allegations.  The professor, who was arrested under the Sections 354-A and 509 of IPC, was granted a bail and released immediately. “The professor should be suspended or sent on leave till the probe committee submits its report. The students gave me a detailed account of the harassment episodes. Even the probe committee has found it true that Yedukondalu was harassing girl students. We will fight till he gets punished,” she added.

Meanwhile, Yedukondalu alleged that the students were against him over the attendance issues. “We were marked absent many a time though we attended the classes. Those supported us in the department, they were punished.  We dare not to stay in the classrooms alone because Yedukondalu tried to take advantage of such situations in the past. Deliberately, he marked many students absent. After we raised the allegations, he said that none could do anything to him. We will attend the classes until he is out of the department,” said an MA second year student of Sanskrit department.

In response, the Women’s Commission chairperson said, “Stories of taking attendance should not be entertained as reasons for the professor to escape from the allegations. Any blackmail of students will not be tolerated. I spoke to the varsity officials and the students will be allowed to write a special exam,” Nannapaneni Rajakumari said.

Will go for judicial probe,  if needed, says AU V-C  
AU vice-chancellor G Nageswara Rao said,”One panel has finished the probe into the attendance shortage issues, while the report on the allegations will be received from the Women’s Grievance Cell in a few days. The professor has been suspended from the HoD post. Once we get the second committee report, we will take action. We will go for a judicial inquiry too if needed.”

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