ICC wants JNU-student, who filed 'frivolous' sexual-harassment allegations, barred
The Internal Complaints Committee of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has recommended that a female student should be barred from entering the campus and not allowed to take up any jobs after their investigation concluded she had leveled 'frivolous' charges of sexual harassment. The student had accused her professor of molesting and threatening her. She filed a complaint on April 12, this year.
What the ICC found
The victim leveled allegations against her Ph.D guide and the ICC didn't find her claims true. Apart from barring her, the list of suggested punitive measures included not allowing her to take any course in the institute. She shouldn't be allowed to enter campus for academic or non-academic purposes, and shouldn't be given characters or no-objection certificates by the administration, the ICC recommended.
ICC can take action if allegations are baseless
The Vice-chancellor of the varsity is yet to take a decision on the recommendation. However, the ICC is allowed to take action against the complainant if the allegations turn out to be untrue. But the rules underline that 'malicious intent on the part of the complainant shall not be established without an inquiry'. Meanwhile, the complainant has said the committee was hostile towards her.
The complainant is displeased with the recommendations
"I've submitted my Ph.D but I'm yet to receive my degree because of which I haven't been able to apply for a post-doctoral fellowship or a teaching job. The way they have barred me from campus, I feel like I'm the criminal," she told IE.
Complainant can't enter campus without informing Proctor Office
The complainant will have to be escorted by two female officers when she enters the campus in the future, the recommendations further read. She will also have to inform the Proctor Office about her entering and exit timings in advance. The ICC underlined that her 'degree shall be put on hold till the Academic Council concludes its proceedings', reports IE.
