Saturday, November 3, 2007

Molestation charges keep Ramjas on the boil

Avishek Dastidar, Abhinav Kumar and Garima Sharma,
Hindustan Times
New Delhi, October 26, 2007



Students of Delhi University's Ramjas College boycotted classes on Thursday following allegations of sexual harassment against the college vice-principal.

Vice-principal BN Ray, against whom the students demanded action, has denied the charge and said he suspected mischief by some students.

The victim, a second-year male student, said Ray had invited him over to his house for dinner on Wednesday night. During dinner, the vice-principal tried to "approach inappropriately" and wanted to hug him, he alleged at a student's meeting on Thursday.

Ray said the charges were "baseless". "It is shocking what the students did today. Students come over uninvited to my house where I live with my wife and children. I have never invited anyone," he told HT.

"Students must have had grievances against me and are now using the opportunity to create a mountain out of a molehill," Ray said.

The college, however, has referred the matter to Delhi University's College Complaints Committee formed to look into such allegations. "The committee will take up the issue on Monday. It is beyond my powers to take further actions against the accused," said Rajender Prasad, principal, Ramjas College.

In their complaint, the students alleged that Ray had issued a written apology a few years ago following similar allegations. But both Ray and Prasad denied this.

DUSU president Amrita Bahari said, "We want the accused to be suspended till the time the committee comes up with a verdict."

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