NEW DELHI: Jawaharlal Nehru University has terminated the job of a professor who has been accused of sexual harassment by an official from the Japanese embassy, a university official has said.
The university has taken disciplinary action against seven other persons too in connection with other cases.
The professor, accused by the Japanese embassy of misconduct, has been dismissed without retirement benefits. He was accused in multiple other complaints of sexual misconduct, the official claimed.
The university’s executive council, its top decision-making body, reportedly approved the action unanimously. According to the JNU official, the university received a formal complaint from the Japanese embassy alleging that the professor had made sexually inappropriate remarks at one of the embassy officials.
Attempts by TOI to contact the professor on phone or email were unsuccessful. According to the university official, JNU’s internal complaint committee (ICC) investigated the matter and pronounced the professor guilty. Based on the ICC’s report, the administration terminated the professor.
JNU vice-chancellor Santishree D Pandit said: “We have a zero-tolerance policy towards such complaints. It is a clear warning to all sexual predators, rent seekers and corrupt staff, both teaching and non-teaching. We have also given representation to students through elections in the ICC for the first time.”
Another professor, who was suspended in 2021 by the then VC over alleged misappropriation of research funds, has been dismissed. The funds misappropriation case has been transferred to CBI, following which the termination decision on the professor was made.
Two non-teaching staff members have also been dismissed in connection with the case, the statement added. In a separate matter, a faculty member has been suspended pending court proceedings.
He was among 10 people arrested by CBI in Feb in connection with an alleged bribery case related to NAAC accreditation of a deemed-to-be university in Andhra Pradesh.