Women's panel seeks report on sexual harassment at Mysore varsity

Karnataka State Women’s Commission has registered a suo motu case in connection with the reported sexual harassment of a research scholar by her professor at Manasagangotri, the post-graduate studies campus of the University of Mysore.

Manjula Manasa, chairperson of the commission, has written to the registrar of the varsity, C Basavaraju, seeking his report on the case. The letter to the varsity authorities states, “The case has been booked on the basis of media reports as there is no complaint (police) regarding the case. It has appeared that the research scholar was being troubled by a fellow scholar and a professor”.

Basavaraju told Deccan Herald, “The letter has been received on Monday and a report has been sought from the chairman of the department, where the incident occurred. After receiving the report, it will be forwarded to the commission”. When sought to know if the varsity has initiated any in-house probe into the incident, the registrar replied in the negative, as no complaints have been received. “How can I take action? I have not initiated any enquiry”, he said. 

A month ago, relatives of a research scholar had assaulted the fellow scholar in front of the department of Public Administration in Manasagangotri. The relatives had alleged that the research scholar was mentally harassing the student at the instigation of the professor.