NEW DELHI: The Jawaharlal Nehru University recorded 39 sexual harassment complaints that have been recorded in the year 2015-16, the varsity asked the internal committee for a report on the number of complaints , although no investigation has been initiated in any case yet.
According to sources in Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH), this is the highest ever in the varsity’s records, JNU which has been marred with controversies lately, has a central body which deals with complaints of this nature.
Former HRD Minister Smriti Irani had informed Parliament in December, that the numbers of complaints received by the JNU during the last two years were the highest among educational institutions.
“This shows the empowerment that the GSCASH has provided to the students, the numbers look high to an outsider as we have a mechanism to report such cases, in other institutions the cases go unreported” Mohit Pandey the newly elected JNU Student Union President told Express .
As per sources, 42 complaints were received between January, 2015 and March, 2016. Out of the total cases, three inquiries were completed and cases were closed. Three complaints were withdrawn, 29 complaints are such where the inquiry is underway.
GSCASH was instituted by the university in 1999 under the Vishakha guidelines of the Supreme Court. The panel has representatives from JNU Students Union (JNUSU), JNU Officers' Association (JNUOA), hostel wardens, faculty and administrative staff.
JNU had recently notified a new sexual harassment policy which also included a penalty provision for false complaints filed before the probe panel.