HRD, DU refuse to intervene in St Stephen's molestation row

NEW DELHI: The demand for removal of St Stephen's College Principal Valson Thampu grew louder today in the wake of the row over alleged molestation even as HRD ministry and Delhi University refused to intervene saying the matter has to be handled by the college's Internal Complaints Committee.

With student bodies, including DUSU and ABVP, along with DU's Executive Council ( EC) members and Delhi Commission of Women (DCW), insisting on his removal, the Delhi Police Commissioner said the matter is being examined.

The victim had yesterday come out with a set of audio recordings which allegedly claimed that Thampu had pressurised her not to treat the issue as that of sexual harassment, which triggered a row today and protests outside the college campus.

In midst of the row, Thampu maintained a stoic silence despite repeated attempts to reach him.

The HRD ministry declined to intervene as its officials said that "as per the Supreme Court's guidelines, every institution is supposed to have an Internal Complaints Committee to deal with complaints of sexual harassment. The issue at St Stephen's has to be handled by the committee."

DU also washed its hands off the issue contending that "it is the college's internal matter".

"St Stephen's College is a minority institution run by the Church of North India. It is an internal matter of the college...DU has no say in it and the college's Governing Body (GB) is the supreme administrative body to take any action in this regard," a senior varsity official said.

A research scholar at St Stephen's had approached police on June 19 alleging that she was molested by Satish Kumar, a professor in the college's Chemistry department.

The complainant has also accused Stephen's Principal Valson Thampu of shielding the accused and "criminally intimidating" her to close the matter in the college itself in order to not cause any delay or problems in the completion of her Ph.D.

Sought for his comments, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said "whenever a complainant gives an evidence, it is examined. We will examine it and take further action whatever deemed fit."

His reaction came as the Delhi High Court today sought a reply from police on a plea by Kumar seeking anticipatory bail in the case and ordered a stay on his arrest till August 17.