BANGALORE: Bangalore University’s alleged soft approach towards an associate professor accused of sexually harassing his PhD student has drawn criticism.
The committee constituted by the university had conducted an inquiry into the case, reported from BU’s post-graduate centre in Kolar, and recommended the suspension of the accused, Prof Ka Vem Srinivas Murthy. “Instead of keeping his promotion in abeyance, the Syndicate should have implemented the recommendation,” said a professor who was on the committee.
A senior BU professor told Express, “As the committee has recommended suspension, the university should act accordingly and provide justice to the student. Otherwise, why constitute inquiry committees?”
The copy of the report available with Express says that the victim was also injured. The 15-page report highlights the part which says the X-ray reports prove that the girl’s shoulder was injured when Murthy tried to pull her with force. “Following the pain in her shoulder, she went to a government hospital and got an X-ray done. The X-ray, which shows the fractures, proves the act,” says the report.
After a detailed inquiry, the committee recommended Murthy’s suspension and said he was ineligible to continue as a teacher. It also recommended that the university get the victim compensation from Murthy for injuring her.
