Hyderabad: Symbiosis Law School student Apoorva Y.K. who was evicted from the hostel, lodged a complaint with the Nandigram police station against the SLU management. A case (Cr. No. 160/2018) under Section 354 (D) and 506 IPC has been booked against the law school management.
In the complaint, a copy of which is available with this newspaper, she stated, “The management has threatened to rusticate me if I do not pull down social posts exposing the mismanagement of sexual misconduct complaints made against the law school professor. I was served evacuation notice at 3.00 pm on Friday, October 26, and was forcefully made to vacate (the hostel). The management is threatening to ruin my career.”
She stated, “The allegations of sexual misconduct such as ogling of breast and private parts of female students by a professor were proven by the law school management. This apart, many more complaints of sexual harassment reported on the campus were brought to the notice of the management in the last three years. On May 1, 2018, we complained to the ministry of women and child welfare demanding due process, following which, he was reprimanded but made a member of the grievance community, and then all other complaints were brushed aside.”
There is a clear divide amongst the students. A majority of them are with the law school and blame Apoorva. A handful of them are in her support. The professors though want to stay out of it.
On Saturday, the management held a meet with the students. “The directors explained why disciplinary action was being taken against Apoorva and Snigdha. They cited poor attendance being the reason to evacuate them, which is not true. The duo were taken to task as they had exposed the management's inability to deal with complaints,” said a student.
The opposite group blamed the duo. “Issues raised by Apoorva and Snigdha are having an adverse effect on other students. By posting on social media, she has defamed the institution and faculty. As we belong to this school, defaming it is defaming us. We are deeply hurt about what has happened,” said another student.
