Mysore varsity V-C orders probe into sexual harassment charges against dept head

Vice-chancellor of University of Mysore Prof K S Rangappa has ordered an in-house inquiry into the allegations of sexual harassment against chairman of department of studies in public administration Prof Dayananda Mane.

The committee against sexual harassment at the varsity has been tasked with the probe and set a one-month deadline to submit its report, Rangappa told media here on Wednesday.

Rangappa said, “I came to know about the incident through newspaper reports as I was out of station on that day. I wanted to check the veracity of the incident and sought a written complaint from the attacked research scholar, which she firmly refused.”

It is only after that the probe by in-house committee was ordered, Rangappa added, confirming that the varsity had received a letter from Karnataka State Women’s Commission Chairperson Manjula Manasa, seeking a report on the case.

The Commission has already booked a suo motu case in this regard.

Varsity Registrar Prof C Basavaraju said, “Following a missive from the Commission chairperson , a report had been sought from Mane. 

Mane has replied that he was not at the place where the victim’s relatives attacked a fellow research scholar over the issue. Basavaraju said, the same has been forwarded to the Commission.

Three weeks ago, relatives of a research scholar had assaulted a fellow scholar for allegedly mentally harassing the former at the behest of Mane.