Sexual Harassment Charges Rock St. Stephen’s Again

Sexual harassment FIR filed against bursar of St. Stephen’s College

(Photo Courtesy: Vishwanath Kothapalli via St. Stephens College)

In a shocking incident of violence against women in academic institutions in Delhi, the Delhi Police have registered an FIR against the Bursar of the prestigious St Stephen’s College, on a complaint by a female student of the college alleging acts of sexual harassment, molestation and then subsequent acts of victimisation and mental torture disrupting the victim’s research work.

It is learnt from sources that the victim has also levelled an accusation against Principal Thampu that he tried to convince and brainwash her and her family not to pursue the case against the College bursar and instead leave it to him to sort out and that he would ensure that the victim was given appropriate benefits.

This is not the first time an allegation has been levelled against Thampu in this regard. In another case of sexual harassment involving the Librarian and Deputy Librarian of the College , the deputy librarian had alleged that Thampu tried to protect her harasser and had instead victimised her for raising the issue in the first place. She had gone on to file a specific complaint seeking action against Thampu from the erstwhile Apex Committee for his constant intimidation and victimization. The matter is now pending with the Delhi High Court

St Stephen’s record in terms of sexual harassment has been woeful. In other instances, Thampu’s personal attendant , Laxmi Kant continues to work in the college despite an indictment by the internal sexual harassment committee of the College. In another instance a professor from the College was accused of molesting a foreign exchange  student  but there again Thampu and the Governing Body had closed the case against the professor.