Students protest sexual harassment in two Delhi University colleges

On Tuesday, a Bharati College student wrote to the university officials alleging that a teacher had sent her “lewd messages” and made phone calls at “inappropriate times” trying to hold “vulgar conversations” last year.

Delhi University was embroiled in multiple protests on Wednesday, over the alleged sexual harassment cases that have surfaced over the last week in two different DU institutions —Daulat Ram College (DRC) and Bharati College.

On Wednesday, around 50 people led by members of the Pinjra Tod movement, submitted a memorandum at the proctor’s office seeking action in the wake of the DRC incident.

In both cases, the major problem is the non-functioning Internal Complaints Committee, protestors said.

On Tuesday, a Bharati College student wrote to the university officials alleging that a teacher had sent her “lewd messages” and made phone calls at “inappropriate times” trying to hold “vulgar conversations” last year.

She also submitted a CD with a video of her confronting the teacher in April last year, wherein she is seen slapping him and the teacher is seen apologising.

In DRC, a student had filed a police complaint against a teacher for stalking and sexual harassment on January 31.

The teacher is now in judicial custody.

On Wednesday, around 50 people led by members of the Pinjra Tod movement, submitted a memorandum at the proctor’s office seeking action in the wake of the DRC incident. They alleged that most DU colleges, except Miranda, Hindu and Ramjas, do not have a functional ICC.

However, Savita Roy, the principal of DRC, said that they had a “functional” ICC as per the UGC regulations. “We had elected student representatives in the previous committee. I am unsure if this year’s committee does,” she said.

The students of Bharati College, led by Congress’ student organisation National Students Union of India (NSUI) and the vice-president of DU Students Union (DUSU), Kunal Sehrawat, demanded the termination of the accused teacher earlier in the day. The protestors said the college had an ICC with teachers but they were yet to elect student representatives, a claim corroborated by the college’s principal.

Bharati College’s officiating principal, said their committee was looking into the issue, and had already spoken to the student. “The teacher is maintaining that there is some conspiracy, but we have 90 days, and we will inquire it in full. The teacher has been asked to go on extraordinary leave as of Monday,” said Mukti Sanyal.