Chennai: An assistant professor who alleged sexual harassment was sacked last week by Chennai’s Loyola College, one of India’s most prestigious institutions.
The former Tamil professor alleges that the college first pressured her to withdraw a sexual harassment complaint against her former head of department, and then sacked her without giving any reason.
The 51-year-old alleges that she was harassed by the head of the Tamil Department six years ago.
The college’s committee against sexual harassment finally investigated her complaint after a five year struggle, but the professor says the probe report was not shared with her and no action was taken against the man she had complained against.
“They are shielding him because they don’t want their name to be tarnished. Loyola College is more than 80 years old. They asked me to forgive him many times,” she told NDTV.
Last week, the college reportedly sent a termination order and a cheque for a month’s salary to her home.
She has moved the Madras High Court, which has ordered the police to file an FIR or first information report against the professor accused of sexual harassment.
Loyala College has not offered any justification for sacking the professor.
“The issue is sub-judice. The particular member was on contract and we don’t require her anymore. So we have terminated her contract,” Loyola College Principal G Joseph Anthony Samy told NDTV.
Left without a job, the professor is worried about her future. She says “Just because I stood against sexual harassment, I could be seen as a troublemaker. No institution will give me job.”
