BHU sends professor on long leave, to review reinstatement

VARANASI: BHU vice-chancellor Prof Rakesh Bhatnagar late Sunday decided to send tainted zoology professor S K Chaubey on long leave in face of mounting protests against his reinstatement on the campus. The varsity brass also sent his case back to the executive council to reconsider revocation of his suspension.
BHU spokesperson said the decision was taken to ensure prevention of sexual harassment on the campus and the university has re-circulated guidelines framed under the law to all departments.However, protests continued on the campus despite the V-C's order.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra posted protest photograhs on her Facebook profile.
She also wrote on her timeline: "BHU students are bound to come on roads as they are not getting any security assurance from the university administration. The complaint lodged by several girl students against a professor was found correct but no action was taken and so now 'beti bachao campaign' will be run by girls themselves."
After returning from an academic tour in October 2018, a group of girl students alleged that Prof Chaubey passed vulgar comments and made obscene gestures during the tour to Odisha.
After receiving the complaint, the VC suspended Chaubey, and asked the internal complaints committee to look into the matter.
In June, the executive council decided to censure Prof Chaubey and revoke his suspension. After the decision, the professor started taking the classes in August.
The decision, however, did not go down well with students who alleged that the professor has not been punished for misconduct