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Protests rock Delhi University campus

Students demand zero-tolerance on sex harassment; activist wants regulatory bodies strengthened

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Members of the Pinjra Tod protesting at the Delhi University Campus in New Delhi on Wednesday
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The Delhi University campus was rocked with protests on Wednesday following two cases of harassment against female students by male faculty members, being reported from two separate colleges within a week.

A student of Bharti College wrote to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Yogesh Tyagi, alleging sexual harassment by a male teacher on Tuesday. In her complaint, she alleged the professor used to send her lewd messages and make obscene calls to her until she confronted him and recorded the incident.

This complaint came after a similar case was reported from Daulat Ram College.

The student had also submitted a video clip, shot in September 2017, in which she's seen slapping the professor for harassing her and five more girl students, to the Vice Chancellor. "This is not a one-off incident. There are many other girls who are facing this at our campuses," she said while speaking to the media.

Demanding the suspension of the accused teacher, members of DU Student Union (DUSU), Congress-backed National Students'Union of India (NSUI) and RSS-backed ABVP staged a protest at Bharti College campus in Janakpuri. "It is so shocking that the college administration failed to find any word controversial or vulgar on the part of professor. The demanded more time to look into the matter," said Akshay Lakra, president NSUI, Delhi.

Similarly in the afternoon, a group of students led-by Pinjra-tod — a women's collective that seeks to make hostel and campuses non-discriminatory for female student — staged a protest at the Varsity's Arts Faculty and submitted a memorandum with the DU proctor demanding "Enforce Zero Tolerance to Sexual Harassment at the campus".

"The Colleges should immediately constitute autonomous Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) with elected student and staff representatives and install hoardings with details of its members displayed in all prominent places at their campuses," said Devangana Kalita, member of Pinjra Tod.

Meanwhile, activists say that the Vice Chancellor should immediately intervene in the matter. "The Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in education institutes are basically farce and that's why students don't trust them. Also, there is no victim protection when cases go to such committee. The Vice Chancellor should intervene and check the functioning of these committees," said Ranjana Kumari, director of the NGO Centre for Social Research (CSR).

THE INCIDENT

  • A student of Bharti College wrote to the Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi, alleging sexual harassment by a male teacher on Tuesday
     
  • This complaint came after a similar case was reported from Daulat Ram College
     
  • The student also submitted a video clip, shot in September 2017, in which she’s seen slapping the professor for harassing her and five more girl students, to the Vice Chancellor
     
  • Members of DUSU, NSUI and ABVP staged a protest at Bharti College campus
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