Molestation row: HRD asks St Stephen's to expedite probe

The HRD ministry today asked St Stephen's college to expedite its probe into the sexual harassment complaint filed by a PhD student against a professor who was supervising her research.
"The college has been asked to ensure that the probe by its Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) is expedited and justice is ensured," officials in the ministry said.
Taking cognizance of the controversy over the allegations leveled by the girl against Satish Kumar, an assistant professor in college's Chemistry department, HRD ministry had earlier this week sent a notice to DU seeking an action-taken report in the matter.
College principal Valson Thampu had said that he has replied to the notice with all "relevant documents".

Kumar who was also the Bursar of the college was earlier this week denied anticipatory bail by a Delhi Court in connection with the case, following which he had resigned from the post.
The student had approached police last week alleging that she was molested by the accused in October, 2013.

She has also alleged that the college principal tried to protect the teacher when the matter was reported to the college authorities.
While Thampu has been maintaining that he had "duly" forwarded the students complaint to ICC, a statutory body to deal with such complaints, the victim had last week withdrawn her complaint from the committee saying she has lost faith in its proceedings.

Thampu had yesterday said that the institution is not an investigative agency and it is for the police to conduct the probe.