HC seeks JNU's response on plea to suspend prof accused of sexual harassment

The Delhi High Court today sought the response of the Jawaharlal Nehru University on a plea by several women students seeking suspension of its professor Atul Kumar Johri, against whom eight FIRs have been lodged alleging sexual harassment.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher also issued notice to the professor on the students' petition seeking restriction on his entry into the varsity campus and provision of a safe working environment.

The court asked the JNU to treat the representations of the women students as complaints for initiating action against Johri and directed the Delhi Police to show the statements of students recorded before a magistrate to the JNU vice chancellor so that he can initiate preliminary enquiry against the professor.

The court was informed that eight FIRs have been lodged against the Department of Life Sciences professor based on the complaints of eight women students. He was arrested in March and granted bail by the court, but the authorities had not taken any action against him, the complainants stated.