After the alleged sexual harassment cases against Professor Ramesh Chandra, head of Department of Chemistry at Delhi University came to light with an enquiry pending with the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), lok Sabha MP Sushmita Dev has written to Vice-Chancellor of DU Prof Yogesh K Tyagi to “expedite the process of impartial enquiry” against the professor.
Prof Chandra is accused of sexual harassment and molestation and misconduct with a teacher and post-graduation students.
“I am writing this letter with utmost anguish and pain to you and also to bring to your urgent attention that two cases of sexual harassment involving the Head of Department of Chemistry have been reported in the Press and pending with ICC. As per the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013, an impartial enquiry must be conducted within 90 days. But in the present case even after a lapse of 90 days, no follow up action has been taken. This is in spite of substantial proof being present in this case,” said Sushmita Dev in her letter to DU V-C.
In her complaint, the teacher had complained of being humiliated by Prof Chandra in front of six male faculty members during an interview for an ad-hoc position in the department on November 6, 2017, where she had been teaching for over six years. Moreover, on March 28, students wrote to the V-C demanding expulsion of Ramesh Chandra from the post of head of department (HOD).
“You are well aware that the issue, pertaining to sexual harassment of women, is an issue requiring utmost sensitivity and the urgent action it requires. As I have been the student of this illustrious institution, I cannot remain a silent spectator to the issue. I appeal to your conscience to expedite the process of impartial enquiry and follow up there on within a time frame so that justice is done to the complainant and the law of the land reigns supreme,” stated the letter.