Aligarh Muslim University suspends professor accused of sexual harassment

Aligarh Muslim University has suspended a senior law professor, after a first year student filed a sexual harassment complaint against him.

Professor Mohammad Shabbir, who ironically teaches criminal law and gender justice and is the Chairman of Law Department, was suspended by a committee formed by the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) after the complaint surfaced. The complainant hails from Kashmir.

AMU’s Registrar, Group Captain (retired) Shahrukh Shamshad, said: “This case is about misconduct. We have sent the girl, who claims to have been sexually harassed by a senior law professor, to the women’s cell. A committee of the women’s cell studied the case and the complainant was also heard. A preliminary inquiry was conducted on the basis of which the professor was suspended.

Shamshad also said that a detailed inquiry has been ordered into the matter.

Media reports indicate that the professor was suspended eight years ago on charges of sexual harassment by a US-based university student who was on an exchange programme that time.

The girl filed a complaint with the US embassy; however, after four months of inquiry the professor was let off.

Professor Shabbir remained unavailable for comment.