KANNUR: Governor P. Sathasivam, also the Chancellor, has sought a report from Kannur University vice-chancellor on the issue of three girl students of the mathematics department filing a sexual harassment complaint against their teacher. Vice-chancellor Dr M.K. Abdul Khader confirmed receiving the letter and added that a report on the same was sent to the Governor. “The details of the report can not be made public due to the confidential nature of the issue. However, a similar letter was received from the office of Education Minister C. Raveendranath and we constituted a two-member committee of women teachers to probe the issue. The report was also sent to the office of the minister,” said the VC.
According to the complaint, sent to the minister on February 6, the girls studying first year post graduation at the Mangattuparamba campus, alleged that they were repeatedly being subjected to verbal and physical advances from their teacher “who was appointed to assist us excel in our academic endeavour”. They also said that there were no internal complaints committee inside the university and feared repercussions from the political influences of the teacher. The students also alleged that there were more girl students with similar complaints, but were afraid to come out in open. However, the VC said that none of the students had approached him, registrar or any other teachers regarding such a harassment complaint.
