St Stephen's molestation case: DCW chief writes to Smriti Irani seeking details or directive to DU

New Delhi: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal on Wednesday wrote to Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani seeking details of her directives to the Delhi University in connection with the St Stephen’s molestation row.

“I am personally hearing a complaint received from a St Stephen’s research scholar that she was harassed by a college professor. I understand that you had also met the complainant recently and had issued directives to DU as well as UGC to ensure that her PhD does not get affected,” Maliwal said in her letter to Irani.

“I would appreciate if you provide us with the copies of that order to help the commission in dealing with the case with greater precision and in providing relief to the complainant,” she said.

The accused and the victim appeared before the DCW for the second hearing today.

A research scholar at St Stephen’s had last month approached police alleging that she was sexually harassed by Chemistry professor Satish Kumar under whom she was doing her PhD. She had also accused college principal Valson Thampu of shielding the accused.

She had met Irani following which the minister had directed the university to ensure that her supervisor is changed, her stipend is not withheld and she is granted unrestricted access to the laboratory. All these demands were “denied in entirety” by the accused.

Taking cognizance of the complaint submitted by the victim to DCW, the commission had summoned Thampu and the accused professor last week.

While the accused had told the commission during the last hearing that the complaint against him is a fallout of his opposition to the girl’s poor performance during the research, he was asked to submit before DCW evidences of what complaints had he initiated if he was “dissatisfied” with her performance.

PTI