A group of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students have filed a police complaint saying they are threatened by the presence of sexual harassment accused Professor Atul Kumar Johri on the campus. They accused the JNU administration of shielding the professor who is facing sexual harassment charges.
These students have also sought protection from the police in their complaint . “We, the students of School of life Sciences, are feeling threatened. The presence of the accused in the premises is making it a distressing environment. He is coming to school premises daily for past three days,” said the complaint filed at Vasant Kunj Police Station last night.
The police complaint by the students alleged that the vice chancellor was “providing the accused with security guards”.
“This shows how accused is being shielded and allowed to create an environment of indirect influence and intimidation for safety of victims, friends of victims witness, as well as other school students,” it said. “We request you to look into the matter and provide us minimum safety and security for a work and life to continue normally without any fear,” the complaint read.
The police said that they have received the complaint but no FIR has been registered yet.While on Wednesday, Delhi High Court Justice Rajiv Shakdher directed the university to initiate a probe against Johri.
“Can't you (JNU) advise him to stay outside the campus till the enquiry is completedIJ ... Can't you treat the representations as complaintsIJ The core issue is that the students should feel safe in the campus. I am not saying you completely trash the professor. Take his defence, give him a preliminary hearing. Do something, you can't expose your students like this,” said court.