Karnatak University suspends professor accused of harassing research scholar

Dharwad (Karnataka): A professor at Karnatak University Dharwad, who has been facing allegations of harassing a female research scholar, was on Wednesday placed under suspension pending inquiry, university officials said. Following protests by students, the accused Botony professor has been placed under suspension. ABVP leader Sachin Kotta alleged that the professor, a PhD guide at Karnatak University, Dharwad, subjected research scholars to harassment and mental torture.

According to him, a woman research scholar from Vijayapura district, who was pursuing her PhD under the accused professor's guidance, was allegedly subjected to inappropriate conduct and an unethical relationship by the guide. He further alleged that the scholar later returned to Vijayapura. "He (professor) allegedly harassed another male research scholar, who was from Vijayapura and known to the woman scholar.

The guide allegedly threatened the student, saying that his PhD work would not be allowed to be completed, causing severe mental stress," the ABVP leader told reporters here. Demanding action against the professor, ABVP staged a protest at the university campus, following which, Kotta claimed the university suspended the accused professor. "We demanded the suspension of the guide for allegedly harassing students and misusing his position.

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The university has now suspended him," he said. Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) is the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Speaking to reporters here, University Vice-Chancellor A M Khan said that based on the complaint that was given by the Students' Association and media reports dated June 6, immediate action was taken and an alternate guide was assigned to the student.

"We changed the guide and also removed the accused professor from the chairmanship so that he does not cause any problem for the PhD of that student," he said. The VC said that a notice had also been issued to the accused professor asking him to respond within three days following some photos featuring him circulating on social media platforms in this regard. "He (professor) has replied and since we found that the replies were not appropriate, we suspended him for the time period and then other inquiry process will go on. So he has been suspended till the inquiry process is over. Then we'll take further action," Khan added.