Massive protest rocks JNU campus

New Delhi: Protests erupted on the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus here after a professor was booked for molesting seven students. The protesting students marched to Vasant Kunj police station, demanding professor Atul Johri's arrest, who faces allegations of serial sexual harassment.

"Despite day-long protests, the University neither removed him from his administrative posts nor suspended him from his job, on the strength of which he indulged in serial acts of harassment. The fact that the administration is advertising that he has 'tendered' his resignation from administrative posts shows that it is more interested in giving him a safe passage rather than act against him.

"Why is the administration refusing to suspend him? In such a situation, how can the complainants get justice as long as the accused continues to be shielded by the protective umbrella of the administration? And police too delays to act on the FIR," a statement by JNU Students' Union read.

Irate students alleged that if the professor really resigned from all administrative posts, he must vacate his warden flat immediately.

However, they said he will not do so because "it is a hollow gesture and completely contrary to standard operating procedures that need to be followed with regard to someone accused of sexual harassment.

"The Vice-Chancellor was proactive in filing complaint against students, but no action has been taken against the professor," said Sunny, a protesting student.

"We are going to protest till the time the administration issues a termination letter to Professor Johri," said Preeti, another protestor.

In a statement supporting the protest, JNU Teachers' Union issued a statement, saying, "We are deeply distressed to read about extremely grave allegations of moral turpitude against Prof Atul Johri, amounting to charges of sexual harassment, academic dishonesty, and financial misappropriation"

Professor Johri is yet to comment on the issue.