Bangalore University (BU) finds itself in the grip of another controversy with five women professors filing a complaint of harassment at the workplace with the Karnataka State Commission for Women.
Manjula Manasa, Chairperson of the Commission, told The Hindu on Tuesday that the professors had, in their complaint, alleged that they were suffering harassment of various kinds. “They have stated that a month’s salary was withheld for no reason, were marked absent frequently though they were present and would be left out of events organised by the Department,” Ms. Manasa said.
Importantly, the professors have also accused BU authorities of not responding to their complaints. “They have said that they complained to the Vice-Chancellor, but he did not order an inquiry,” she said.
Though the Commission refused to divulge any more details, the complainants are said to be from BU’s Kannada Department. Sources said their accusations were directed at the Head of the Department.
VC respondsReacting to the incident, BU Vice-Chancellor B. Thimme Gowda said, “It all started about a year ago and I forwarded the complaint to the Women Sexual Harassment Cell. Meanwhile, the director (of the department) also filed a counter complaint saying that they were irregular. I called both parties for a meeting and warned them of action for indiscipline.”
Prof. Gowda also said that four complainants are Kannada professors and he did not know who the fifth person is.
