Utkal University Professor Suspended for Alleged Sexual Harassment of Student

Bhubaneswar: An assistant professor at Odisha’s Utkal University was suspended on Wednesday following allegations of sexual harassment. The suspension came after a report from the university’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), which investigated the incident based on a student’s complaint.

The ICC, consisting of university faculty and a legal expert, found preliminary evidence of molestation against the professor. The university registrar issued the suspension order, effective immediately, in accordance with the Vice Chancellor’s directive dated September 18.

The professor has been restricted from leaving the university premises without Vice Chancellor’s permission.

According to the complaint filed by the student, the harassment occurred on August 16 around 2 PM in the professor’s office. The student claimed that the professor asked her to sit close and then touched her inappropriately. She described the encounter as distressing, alleging that he held her waist, pulled her legs, and made inappropriate comments. The student, who has not yet informed her parents due to her mother’s illness, requested that the investigation be handled with confidentiality and sensitivity.

On September 17, Odisha Governor Raghubar Das, also the university’s Chancellor, intervened and instructed the Vice Chancellor to provide a detailed report and action plan regarding the allegations.