In the wake of a sexual harassment complaint being lodged at the Madhya Pradesh State Women’s Commission (MPSWC) by a professor and some students of the city-based National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), its hitherto Joint Director Vasant Kothari has been transferred to Jodhpur.
“We received the complaint in October and the hearing is scheduled on December 11,” MPSWC Chairperson Upma Rai told mediapersons here on Wednesday.
Rai said that the notice in this regard has been served to Kothari to appear before the Commission on December 11.
The victims alleged that Kothari used to invite them to his chamber, make obscene gestures and attempt to touch them on some pretext or the other. They tried to stop him but in vain. The students complained to the then Director MP Nigam who tried to “hush up” the crimes. The hapless victims also complained to the NIFT head office in New Delhi but no action was followed.
Finally, they knocked the MPSWC’s door that served a notice to NIFT in October. After receiving the notice, the Institute transferred Nigam to the head office and Kothari to Jodhpur.
Confirming the crimes, NIFT Director US Tolia said a committee was constituted to investigate the matter.
NIFT Joint Director said that the committee constituted to investigate the matter of sexual harassment at work place would submit it report directly to the MPSWC as per the provisions of law.
Notably, under the sexual harassment of women at work place (prevention, prohibition and redressal) act 2013 the report of the departmental committee is submitted directly to the women’s commission.