Even as the International Women’s Day was celebrated everywhere on Tuesday, four girl students of the Sambalpur University levelled mental harassment and double entendre charges against the university’s Department of Performing Arts lecturer Dr Manoj Behera.
The students staged a dharna in front of administrative office of the university after submitting a complaint to the Vice-Chancellor demanding stringent action against the lecturer.
In their complaint, the students mentioned that Dr Behera is mentally harassing them and using double entendre while speaking to them.
Besides, the lecturer also uses derogatory remarks over Sambalpuri tradition and language and harasses students learning Sambalpuri folk dance, the complaint read.
The students also threatened to bring the matter to the notice of the Governor if the university authorities fail to take any action against the teacher.
Since the last six months, the students have been complaining about it regularly, but no action has been taken yet, a complainant alleged.
The accused lecturer, however, said, “The complaint is completely baseless. I have been taking classes here since last five years and have made efforts to bring the department to such a good level. There has been no such charge against me in the last five years.”
When contacted, Vice-Chancellor Chitta Ranjan Tripathy reportedly said, “We have referred all kinds of representation to the (concerened) committee. After probing the case, the committee will give its report and necessary action will be taken against those found guilty.”