Ravenshaw varsity dean relieved of duty over sex slur

Cuttack: Acting on the recommendations of a committee probing charges of sexual harassment levelled by a Ravenshaw University student against the Dean of Students’ Welfare (DSW), the authorities on Thursday relieved Parthasarathi Mishra of his duty.

“Parthasarathi Mishra has been relieved of his position as the dean of Students’ Welfare and he is no more an employee of the varsity. The State Government would take further action against him. The victim has also been advised to lodge a complaint with the police,” University vice-chancellor Prof B C Tripathy said.

Notably, the gender sensitisation committee against sexual harassment of the University had suggested the authorities to initiate appropriate action against the Odisha Administrative Service official after it found prima facie evidence against him.

“The report of the committee has indicted the accused stating that prima facie, a sexual harassment case is made out against him,” Tripathy said.

A final year Computer Science student had brought the sexual harassment allegation against Mishra last week following which the VC had asked the committee to look into the allegation and report back.

The girl had alleged that when she had gone to meet Mishra in his chamber in connection with a matter of campus recruitment, Mishra proposed to marry her. When she spurned the proposal, he allegedly harassed her sexually, she alleged.

Mishra has, however, refuted the allegation as false and baseless.

Tripathy said the committee, besides examining the complainant and the accused, has also examined four other independent witnesses and found the accused did not tell truth when he denied the allegations levelled against him.

Mishra had apparently told the committee that he was not in his chamber when the girl entered into it.

“But the committee examining other staff members of the administrative block reached a conclusion that Mishra was inside his chamber when the complainant entered it,” the VC said quoting the findings of the report.

“Since the officer was here on deputation from the state government, we will accordingly intimate the government about his conduct,” the VC said, adding the University is likely to seek advice from the government on its future course of action.

Meanwhile, sources in the Police Commissionerate said the city police is closely watching the development and would take appropriate action only when the girl or the University approaches it.