MANGALURU: An Assistant professor of
Mangalore University has been accused of sexually harassing female students. It is alleged that he used to touch girls inappropriately while taking classes and film them while changing clothes during cultural programmes. He had also threatened them for filing complaint against him.
Interestingly, the complaint against Umesh Naik, faculty at Library Science was made in December last and SPARSH (Sensitization, Prevention & Redress of Sexual Harassment) committee proved all allegations made by girls were true in nature. The same was chaired in Syndicate Meeting, yet no action has been taken against him.
According to complaint, a copy available with TOI, girl student of Mangalore University submitted a complaint to varsity alleging that Umesh Naik used to sexually harass and touch inappropriately in class as well in computer lab. After learning about student complaint to varsity, lecturer started to threaten them of dire consequences in classroom, they have alleged in another letter addressed to university.
The SPARSH committee is functioning through the administrative structure given by the university and after enquiry they submitted a report to varsity syndicate. The same was discussed few months ago in Syndicate meeting. According to highly reliable sources after learning about decision of suspending him out of the post, Naik challenged validity of the SPARSH committee investigations and then vice chancellor K Byrappa asked to reconstitute the committee to table the report again. "Due to this action against Naik has been reportedly delayed. The newly constituted committee will submit report and syndicate meeting will be held at the earliest," said source.
While another reliable source slammed former VC Byrappa for not taking any strict decisions when such cases discussed in syndicate. "Whenever such issues discussed and time came to take actions, he was in two minds. Adding to it, no other members spoke about it," source criticized.
Naik, who speaking to regional news channel denied charges against him and alleged that these allegations are part of a big conspiracy involving the college management and a politician, and the girls are being used as pawns. He also claimed that there had been no plaint against him in his career spanning 16 years.
The university has been in limelight for crimes against women. In 2016, Santosh, MSc student from university booked for voyeurism. Student of Marine Geology and hailing from Sullia, he was charged under IT act 66 and Section 354 C. He was booked for keeping a second-hand phone ladies washroom of the biosciences department at Mangalore University. A girl student had noticed the hidden camera and immediately faculty head, which in turn brought the matter to the notice of K Byrappa, then VC.
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