Odisha: Sambalpur University teacher Suspended for harassing' lady colleague

BHUBANESWAR: A day after a woman assistant professor at Sambalpur University in Odisha accused one of her colleagues of mental harassment; the varsity authorities on Sunday placed the concerned teacher under suspension.

An official order signed by the registrar of the University said, “On receipt of a written complaint from a lady faculty against Dr Rajat Kumar Kujur, assistant professor PG department of political science and public administration, Dr Kujur is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect."

During the suspension period, Dr Kujur will get subsistence allowance at the rate equal to leave salary which he would have drawn had he gone on leave on half average pay or half pay and DA based on such leave salary.

“However, no payment shall be made unless he furnishes a certificate that he is not engaged in any other employment, business, profession or vocation," the official varsity order read.

Earlier, the female assistant professor had alleged that she had been mentally harassed by Kujur for no reason since 2016. She also accused him of coming to the department in an inebriated condition during office hours.

The Committee which has been constituted to probe the allegations is likely to hold the first meeting on Monday, sources in the varsity said.

In March 2015, a professor of Sambalpur University was arrested for allegedly trying to sexually assault a PhD scholar on the campus.

The arrested professor was identified as Minaketan Sahu. Sahu who was then married and lived with his family on the campus attempted to molest the PhD scholar in his official chamber. The incident occurred on March 9, 2015, a day before the varsity was set to host a national seminar.

Though delegates from across the country had gathered at the University to take part in the seminar, the event was finally called off following the unpleasant incident.