Andhra Pradesh Women’s Commission chairperson Nannapaneni Rajakumari on Monday visited the Sanskrit Department of Andhra University here to inquire into the alleged sexual harassment of women PG students and research scholars by Head of the Department K. Yedukondalu.
After speaking to the students who faced harassment, she said: “I do not understand how this professor, who was accused of so many allegations, was given a bail within 24 hours and is still sitting in his room.”
The students alleged that the professor was harassing them by making lewd comments and pressurise them for sexual favours.
Based on the complaint filed by the students in the Three Town police station, the professor was arrested last Wednesday under Sections 354-A and 509 of IPC. He was, however, let off on bail the same day.
Annoyed by the way the things were being handled, Ms. Rajakumari said the professor should be immediately suspended or should be told to go on leave till the report was submitted by the committees.
The university set up two committees to inquire into the allegations and at the same time the ‘District Local Complaints Committee’ also took up an independent inquiry. A visibly upset Ms. Rajakumari pointed out that the professor should not be allowed into the department, as the students were unable to attend classes. “I came to understand that the committees are of the opinion that the professor had harassed the students and in such an atmosphere, he should not be allowed into the department,” she said.
Attendance issue
Stating that the professor had alleged that the students had implicated him as they were short of attendance, the later showed the attendance sheet signed by the professor to Ms. Rajakumari.
“I do not want to listen the cooked-up stories by the professor. The students do not have attendance shortage and such blackmail by the professor will not be tolerated. I have spoken to the varsity officials and the students will be allowed for a special exam,” she told the media.
