#MeToo: IISc prof asked to 'compulsorily retire'

An IISc professor who was accused of sexual harassment by a PhD student has been asked to go on a "compulsory retirement" by the institute, The Indian Express reports.

Professor Giridhar Madras, who worked in the chemical engineering department, was asked to leave the institute after the governing council recommended disciplinary action against him, said IISc Director Professor Anurag Kumar. Madras had been working at the IISc for 20 years prior to his dismissal.

Earlier this month, a PhD student at the IISc had accused the scientist of making "sexually coloured remarks" and "harassing her with repeated late-night phone calls".

The disciplinary action was ordered under Rule 11 of Central Civil Services Classification Control and Appeal Rules, which also governs disciplinary actions against IISc employees for sexual harassment.

IISc's policy on sexual harassment says that the Institute will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment and is committed to take all necessary steps to ensure that its women employees and students are not subjected to any form of harassment.

Madras is a recipient of the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, IISc Excellence Award in Teaching and Research and a J.C. Bose National Fellow. He has also received fellowships from several institutes.