NEW DELHI: Two months after three women research scholars accused a professor at Jamia Millia Islamia’s Centre for Jawaharlal Nehru Studies of sexual harassment, the administration finally issued a suspension order on July 16 stating that the matter is extremely serious as one of the scholars has quit from the PhD programme because of professor’s conduct.
The PhD scholars had submitted two sets of complaints to the Centre’s director Indu Virendra, first on May 9 and 13, detailing the allegations against their supervisor and requesting for a change of research guide.
The second set of complaints were submitted on July 7 and 8, where they mentioned the “mental stress” being endured by them while continuing under the accused supervisor.
The suspension order issued by officiating Registrar Nasim Haider stated that the accused, Professor Velayuthum Saravanan, has been suspended considering the fact that the alleged sexual advances made by the professor would demean the stature of an academic engaged with the university.
The accused’s behaviour constitutes violation of the institution’s code of conduct and amounts to gross abuse of authority on his part, the order said. The university has also directed the internal complaints committee of the university to conduct an inquiry into the matter.
The suspension order has stated that during the suspension period, Professor Velayutham shall not leave the city without prior approval of the competent authority and he shall mark his physical presence regularly in the office of the chief proctor, Jamia Millia Islamia and shall not visit the Centre for Jawaharlal Nehru Studies till further orders.
Responding to the suspension order, accused Professor Velayutham said he will seek legal opinion in this regard.
Dissapointed about the order, Professor Velayutham said, “The complaint is not about sexual harassment at all. It is just about the research. It is entirely a desperate attempt to malign my academic reputation and a sexual harassment complaint is the easiest way to do it. I was not even informed about the issue before I received the suspension letter.”
He further said, “I have been working in this university for the last 18 years. 27 MPhil students and two PhD sholars have completed their degrees under my supervision. I am a scholar in this university. The student who had quit her programme had already spoken to me about leaving and I was helping her.”
Inquiry ordered
The suspension order issued by officiating Registrar Nasim Haider termed the alleged acts as gross violation of the university’s code of conduct, directing the internal complaints committee to conduct an inquiry into the matter. The accused professor has been barred from leaving the city without prior approval of authorities during his suspension.