A report by an internal inquiry committee, a copy of which is with The Hindu, has found Lawrence Liang, dean, School of Law, Governance and Citizenship at Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD), guilty of sexually harassing a woman research scholar. He has been asked to step down from “any administrative position he may be holding currently for at least two years”.
The committee has recommended that Professor Liang should undergo a suitable course on sexual harassment at the workplace, sign a formal undertaking that he has read and understood the AUD policy, and would conduct himself appropriately. It went on to warn the Professor that any complaint of sexual harassment against him in the future could have serious consequences, including suspension from service.
The complaint was brought by a woman who was not connected with the university in any formal or informal capacity. The report says that Professor Liang mentioned at the outset of his deposition to the committee that he was foregoing the right to question the jurisdiction of the committee to hear the case due to the university’s larger interests, and the responsibility that fell upon him to the position of leadership he held at AUD. The five-member committee was headed by Geetha Venkataraman, a faculty member. The report details multiple instances in which the defendant allegedly crossed the line.
Professor Liang has sought to appeal the report. His name had appeared earlier in a crowd-sourced list published on Facebook that alleged rampant sexual harassment in Indian universities without providing proof.
