Odisha asst prof suspended after scholar alleges sexual harassment

Bhubaneswar: Authorities of Sambalpur University have suspended an assistant professor after a PhD scholar accused him of sexually harassing her.The suspension order was issued after the university’s internal complaints committee (ICC) conducted a preliminary inquiry and recommended that the faculty member be relieved of all academic and administrative responsibilities pending a detailed investigation.The order issued by the university’s registrar on Friday stated that the ICC is currently examining the complaint and advised withdrawing the faculty member from all academic duties to ensure that the inquiry is conducted in a fair and unbiased manner. “Whereas the matter is under examination by the internal complaints committee, Sambalpur University, and it has recommended withdrawing the faculty from all academic and administrative duties,” the order read.University officials said the ICC is expected to complete the inquiry soon in line with provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013.This is the first case reported after the state govt directed all higher education institutions to activate their ICCs in compliance with the Act, after a student set herself ablaze at a Balasore college last year, after being allegedly sexually harassed by her head of the department. The college had no ICC in place when the student registered her complaint against the professor on June 30.Last year, higher education minister Suryabanshi Suraj informed the assembly that 19 sexual harassment complaints were filed in different colleges and universities in 2024.