Harassment issues: SKUAST to come up with online grievance portal, says VC

Sopore, Dec 3: Vice chancellor, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Kashmir, Prof Dr Nazir Ahmed Ganaie on Saturday termed the sexual harassment case by a professor at Wadura campus unfortunate, says there is no space in the varsity for such people who lack ethics and morality.
The vice chancellor said the incident should not have happened at any cost.
“In order to redress the harassment related issues, the varsity within days would come up with the online grievance portal which would help the students to raise their issues,” he said.
Ganaie said that he is very proud of the students as they have enough courage and guts to highlight such issues which usually remain unreported.
“Such cases are being concealed and not brought to fore but the credit goes to the girl who not only highlighted it but gave confidence to others”, the vice chancellor added.
He also said, that restoring the confidence of students is a top priority and will give them such an atmosphere and free space where they cannot only feel more secure but comfortable too.
In sexual harassment case, the vice chancellor said, that they have already taken action against the said professor who has been alleged of molesting a girl in his office.
The professor has been suspended and an anti-harassment committee is enquiring the matter furthermore.
He said that Police has also registered an FIR in a local police station after the family of a girl approached them. “The professor was arrested hours after the complaint was filled and is under custody at police station Bomai”, said a senior police officer.
Earlier on Friday, authorities at SKUAST said that a girl student (name withheld) on Thursday had complained against a RAWE programme coordinator of molesting her, following which an enquiry was initiated into a very serious complaint of sexual harassment against the said coordinator filed by girl student.
Later, students inside the campus held a strong protest demonstration against the varsity administration and accused professor, demanding stern action which led to arrest and suspension of the accused professor.