Professors approach womens' committee, invite BU fury

Bangalore University on Wednesday decided to issue a memo to the professors of the Kannada Department who have approached the State Womens’ Commission alleging harassment at work place.

An explanation will be sought from the professors for approaching the Commission even as inquiry into their complaint was under process in the university’s Anti Harassment Cell. 

On Tuesday, a few professors from the Department of Kannada in the University’s Jnanabharathi campus approached the Karnataka State Women’s Commission and gave a complaint against their Head of the Department for workplace harassment and against the Vice Chancellor for ignoring their complaints about the HoD. The university officials have now decided to seek explanation from the professors about their complaint to the Commission.

“There is a cell in the university for looking into cases related to workplace harassment. About ten days ago, the professors’ complaint was referred to the cell and an inquiry was going on. Suddenly, they have approached the Commission. We will ask them for an explanation,” Bangalore University Registrar Prof K K Seethamma said. 

According to the Vice Chancellor, the university had issued a circular to all the departments a few months ago asking the faculty to stay in the departments from 10.15 am to 5.15 pm. The head of the department was implementing the circular, but the professors wanted to leave early with an excuse very often, Prof Thimme Gowda said.

He had called for a meeting and had asked both the HoD and the professors to sort out their differences, he added.

Speaking to mediapersons after the Syndicate meeting here on Wednesday, the vice chancellor said the university had constituted a committee to look into the answer script scam in BNM college that came to light recently. The committee will also look into the alleged cash-for-attendance scam in Surana College, the VC added.