Varsity sexual harassment: ICC external member says terminated without valid reason

Greater Noida: A day after TOI reported about sexual harassment allegation of a Gautam Buddh University senior faculty member against the registrar, the only external member of the internal complaints committee (ICC), which has been reconstituted five days after the complainant approached the ICC against the registrar has alleged that the varsity terminated her services without any information even as her term was supposed to end on September 7.
This is the fourth case of sexual harassment reported from the university in the past three years.
She has alleged that she was given no reason for termination as an external member of the committee.
The ICC, which was formed in 2017, had members including Dr Neeti Rana as the chairperson and Dr Shweta Anand, Parwinder Singh, Dr Subhashish Bhadra and Mala Bhandari (external member) as members.
The new ICC was constituted on 14 August, but the document of its reconstitution in possession with TOI shows the date as August 14, 2019, which the university described as a “typographical error”.
The new members include Dr Neeti Rana as the chairperson, assistant professor Dr Arvind Singh, assistant professor Dr Priyadarshini Mitra, section superintendent Neetu Singh, technical superintendent Pallavi Upadhyay, Parwinder Kumar treasury and purchase officer and Dr Udita Tyagi (external member).
The only external member of the previous ICC was Mala Bhandari, president of Noida-based NGO Sadrag.
“When I contacted the chairperson to ask why my services were terminated before September 7, I was told she was unaware of the reconstitution. I have informed the university that I would like to know the reason,” she said.
She added that as per the sexual harassment of women at workplace act, the disqualification of a member can be done in four circumstances.
As per the act, a member can be disqualified for disclosing a confidential information, conviction or inquiry into an offence under law against the member, if the person is found guilty or disciplinary proceedings are pending against him/her or if the person has abused the position which is prejudicial to the public interest.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Dr Neeti Rana, chairperson of the ICC, she told TOI that she would not comment on the issue.
The varsity spokesperson and member of the new ICC Arvind Singh told TOI that the varsity reconstituted the committee since the term was due to expire on August 31.