Jodhpur University Professor Arrested For Alleged Sexual Harassment After Student Protests

An assistant professor at a university in Jodhpur has been arrested following allegations of sexually harassing female students. The accused had taught at the college on a temporary basis for over three and a half years before his services were terminated.

What Happened

A female student filed a police complaint stating the teacher subjected her to obscene behavior, abusive language, stalking, and sexual harassment starting in January. She also provided WhatsApp messages as evidence to support her claims. The matter surfaced publicly on Saturday, prompting students to hold protests and demand action. Following the outcry, the university administration fired the teacher and formed a committee to look into the allegations. The vice-chancellor stated he met the students and took immediate action after learning about the issue on October 10.

Legal Action

Following the arrest, the accused was produced in court on Monday and remanded to police custody for two days. Police stated they will interrogate him and check his mobile phone data. Authorities have applied relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act to the case.

Context

Educational institutions in India increasingly rely on internal committees and swift administrative steps when student safety complaints arise, alongside formal police procedures. Legal frameworks like the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provide specific provisions to handle cases of harassment and stalking reported by students.