A professor at Dibrugarh University in upper Assam has been accused of sexually harassing a female research scholar of the varsity.
Sources said the 30-year-old research scholar has recently lodged a complaint with the internal complaints committee (ICC) of the University accusing the professor of the department of Assamese of sexual harassment.
The research scholar in her complaint alleged that she was molested by the senior faculty member, who is also her research supervisor, at his cabin in the department of Assamese.
“The 9-member ICC headed by professor Dipshikha Bora received a formal complaint from the PhD Scholar accusing her research guide of sexual harassment. The ICC has already recorded the statement of the complainant,” said an official of the varsity on condition of anonymity.
Interestingly, the varsity ICC has remained tight-lipped on the incident. When contacted, IIC presiding officer Dipshikha Bora refused to say anything on the issue.
“Sorry, I can’t say anything on this,” Bora told Northeast Now on phone on Friday evening.
Earlier, the varsity authorities had faced flak for its ‘style of handling’ sexual harassment complaint.
A female ex-student of Dibrugarh University in November 2019 had filed a sexual harassment complaint against former professor Dambarudhar Nath at Sonari police station.
The student had approached the Assam police after the varsity authorities failed to provide her ‘justice’.
In November 2016, the then post-graduate student had filed a complaint before varsity administration against professor Nath, who was during that time working as a professor in the department of history at the university.
The student of the department of history in her complaint accused professor Nath of sexually harassing her and outraging her modesty.
Following the complaint, the university started an inquiry through its official internal complaint committees (ICC).
Later, the varsity administration, however, advised Nath to apply for voluntary retirement on health grounds and when he did so it was granted.
This also allegedly paved the way for Nath to go scot-free with all retirement benefits.
Professor Nath was appointed as the vice-chancellor of Majuli Cultural University in 2019.