Centre removes JNU professor accused of sexual harassment from EPCA

The Centre has removed a JNU professor, accused of sexual harassment, from the Supreme Court-empowered Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), tasked with taking various measures to tackle air pollution.

The Environment Ministry, in an order issued on July 4, announced the removal of Atul Kumar Johri, a professor at the School of Life Sciences at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

Johri was arrested in March for allegedly sexually harassing several women students.

The Delhi High Court had recently given JNU's internal complaints committee two more weeks to complete its investigation into the alleged misconduct of Johri.

Despite repeated attempts, Johri did not respond to queries from PTI regarding his removal from the EPCA.

Students, professors and women rights organisations had demanded Johri's arrest, following allegations by some students of sexual harassment by him.

The Environment Ministry in its notification also said that it had removed another member, professor Mukesh Khare of the department of civil engineering, IIT-Delhi, from the EPCA.

Khare, when contacted, told PTI, "I had resigned six months back from the committee due to personal reasons. My resignation has also been accepted."