After forming a seven-member committee, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bhubaneswar has started a probe into the sexual harassment charge levelled by two MTech girl students against a professor of the institution.
The IIT authority has sent the professor on leave for indefinite period till the finalisation of the inquiry. The probe committee consisting of five female and two male members led by Prof Seema Bahinipati has begun the inquiry on the basis of the girls' complaint, informed a top official of the institution.
According to reports, the girl students of M Tech second-year had lodged a complaint with the IIT Director on April 27 against their professor for harassing them for last few months. Even the professor was asking them to come to his chamber regularly, they alleged.
“After getting a formal complaint from the girls, we have formed a committee on Monday to probe the case,” said IIT-Bhubaneswar Registrar BK Ray, adding, “We have appointed a woman professor to lead the committee consisting of five female members.”
The IIT students, meanwhile, demanded strict punishment against the culprit. “It's not a good sign for an esteemed institution like IIT to report sexual harassment case. The unsavoury incident must not repeat,” said a few students.