Stephen's molestation row: DCW seeks action-taken report from college

NEW DELHI: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Barkha Shukla Singh has sought an action-taken report from the principal of St Stephen's college over allegations of sexual harassment levelled by a PhD student against an assistant professor.

"While taking this issue in all seriousness, I would like to know as to what prompt action has been initiated by the college authorities to give justice to the suffering student of your college," Singh has enquired in a letter written to college principal Valson Thampu.

"I shall be grateful to you if you could kindly send the action taken report in this regard to the Commission, as being a statutory body for protection of women's rights and help the women in distress it is our bounden duty to ensure that such aggrieved women get due justice in time under the legal framework," she said.

Singh has further stated that the Commission is shocked over the "shameful" incident.

The student had on June 19 lodged an FIR against Satish Kumar, an assistant professor in college's Chemistry department alleging that she was sexually assaulted by him.

The victim has also alleged in her complaint that college principal Valson Thampu had "criminally intimidated her to give a written application to him expressing her consent to close the matter in college itself in order to not cause any delay or problems in completion of her PhD".

Thampu has, however, not been named in the FIR.

A Delhi Court had yesterday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of the accused professor following which he has resigned from the post of college's Bursar.