DU seeks report from Ambedkar college on former lab assistant

Delhi University today sought a report from the governing body of Bhim Rao Ambedkar College about the sexual harassment charges of a former employee, who died after self-immolation, even as teachers and students blamed the attitude of the DU authorities for the incident.
"Though the matter is within the purview of the college governance, the university has sought a report on the incident from the governing body of the college," DU Registrar Alka Sharma said in a statement.
The 35-year-old former laboratory assistant at the DU college, Pavitra Bharadwaj, had set herself on fire outside Delhi Secretariat a week ago. She had received 92 per cent burns and died this morning at LNJP Hospital here.

The woman in a suicide note had said she was taking the extreme step to protest the alleged physical and mental harassment by Principal G K Arora and another staff of Bhim Rao Ambedkar College in Yamuna Vihar.
The teachers and students, however, felt the move was "too late and too little" and said it was an indication of the university authorities' insensitivity that Arora had not been suspended till now.
Delhi University Teachers' Association President Nandita Narain alleged that the DU Vice Chancellor was responsible for the incident as the university had refused to intervene even when the victim was being repeatedly served memos and showcause notices during an enquiry into the matter.

"The principal was not put under suspension so as to not be able to influence the course and conduct of the inquiry. This did not happen as the College Complaints Committee was not allowed to act independently from the start," Narain claimed.

"The DUTA demands that G K Arora be immediately arrested under section 306 (Abetment to Suicide) of the IPC and suspended by the University to allow for an impartial probe on the allegations that had been made by Bharadwaj," Narain said.
The woman had filed complaints against the Principal first with an anti-sexual harassment committee and then with the apex committee of the university, both of which had given clean chit to Arora.

She was sacked from the college two years ago.
Students outfit ABVP's state secretary Rohit Chahal demanded an immediate sacking of the Principal.
"It is highly insensitive on the part of the university administration that it is still not taking action against the culprit. If the teachers and employees are not safe in the university, what will be the situation of girls students, one can easily deduce," he said.
Following the woman's death, DU teachers and students had staged a protest at the college demanding that the Principal should step down.