JNU sacks professor, 3 other staff members

The executive council of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has dismissed four staff members — one teaching staff on charges of sexual harassment and another teaching staff, along with two non-teaching staff, in a corruption case currently being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Prof Swaran Singh was accused of sexual harassment by an official of the Japanese embassy. Singh, a professor with the university’s School of International Studies, was in touch with the embassy official for conferences.

According to an official in JNU, the sexual harassment incident took place in May last year. The embassy official, after returning to Japan, complained to the Japanese embassy that then took up the matter with the university.

Singh’s services were terminated after the findings of the Internal Complaints Committee were presented at JNU’s executive council meeting on April 16.

“Singh was responsible for coordinating with professors for academic events. She had filed a complaint after her last meeting with Singh. There was clear evidence against Singh, which led to his dismissal. This is not the first time that such charges were levelled against him. The Internal Complaints Committee of the JNU then found him guilty and terminated his services,” the official said.

The official said that the university found several proofs against Singh which included audio recordings.

Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit said, “We have a zero-tolerance policy towards such complaints. It is a warning to sexual predators and corrupt staff.”

Two other non-teaching staff and a professor of the university’s environmental science department have been suspended in connection with a corruption case.

This case pertains to fund misappropriation and is being investigated by the CBI.

The executive council of the university has also approved the conduct of elections for student representation in the ICC, which is a first, ensuring that students play a direct role in matters related to gender sensitisation and safety.

Delhi