Dean of Students Welfare relieved

Authorities at Ravenshaw University today relieved the Dean of Students' Welfare (DSW), a senior Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer, after the varsity's gender sensitisation committee against sexual harassment gave an adverse report against him.
Parthasarathi Mishra, was relieved from the duty, varsity vice-chancellor B C Tripathy said. Mishra was posted as the dean of the varsity by the State government on deputation since 2009.
"We have relieved Mishra asking him that his service is no more required by us after the gender sensitisation committee against sexual harassment of the University gave an adverse report against him," Tripathy said.
Mishra was indicted by the committee and was found guilty of sexually abusing a girl student of the University. The action came a day after the committee submitted its report to the University vice chancellor B C Tripathy.

The vice chancellor also added that the complainant girl student has been assured by the University that all cooperation would be extended to her if she so desires to approach police for penal action against the accused.
The gender sensitisation committee against sexual harassment of the University had earlier suggested to the authorities to initiate appropriate action.

The girl had brought the sexual harassment allegation against Mishra last week following which the VC had asked the committee to look into the allegation and report back.
She had alleged that when she had gone to meet Mishra in his chamber in connection with a matter of campus recruitment, Mishra proposed to marry her. When she spurned the proposal, he sexually harassed her, the complainant alleged.

Mishra has, however, refuted the allegation as false and baseless.
Tripathy said the committee, besides examining the complainant and the accused, has also examined four other independent witnesses and found the accused did not tell truth when he denied the allegations levelled against him.
Mishra had apparently told the committee that he was not in his chamber when the girl entered into it.
"But the committee examining other staff members of the administrative block reached a conclusion that Mishra was inside his chamber when the complainant entered it," the VC said quoting the findings of the report.
"Since the officer was here on deputation from the state government, we will accordingly intimate the government about his conduct," the VC said.

Meanwhile, sources in the Police Commissionerate said the city police is closely watching the development and would take appropriate action only when the girl or the University approaches it.