Let JNU committee take call on Johri's suspension: HC
New Delhi, May 29: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday said the Jawaharlal Nehru University's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) will take a decision on the suspension of Professor Atul Kumar Johri, accused of sexually harassing women students, after examining the material on record.
Justice Rajiv Shakdher's direction came while hearing a petition filed by several women students seeking suspension of the professor, against whom eight FIRs have been lodged alleging sexual harassment, and to restrain him from entering the campus.
The court said that the ICC, which deals with sexual harassment matters on campus, would examine the material available on record, including the FIRs, complaints and statements of witnesses.
"...thereafter, reach a prima facie finding as to whether respondent No.4's (Johri) conduct is such that it merits his immediate suspension and or removal from the campus," the court said.
"In case a prima facie case of misconduct is made out, the ICC shall make suitable recommendations to the Vice Chancellor."
The court has asked the ICC to place a report before it within three weeks, but directed it not to insist the petitioners to depose before it.
The bench has asked police to render necessary assistance to the committee.
To provide a safe working environment to the petitioner students, the court reiterated that the professor would have no access to laboratory No. 409 of the Department of Life Sciences where the students work.
However, the authority concerned in the JNU would provide complete access to petitioner to laboratory No. 409 for doing their research work, the court ordered directing to appoint separate supervisors for them.
The court also said that if necessary, a separate laboratory should be given to professor to conduct his work, but directed Johri not to contact complainants or any potential witness, and in case of any infraction, the Vice Chancellor would consider removal of professor from the campus.
It also passed the direction that the professor should not take charge as warden of any women's hostel on the JNU campus and listed the matter for August 17 for further hearing.
On March 16, the police had registered only one FIR based on nine complaints. Later, they registered eight FIRs against Johri on separate complaints of nine students, who alleged that he sexually harassed them in a lab of the Department of Life Sciences.
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UP: BJP MLA falls on rail track while flagging off Vande Bharat train
Etawah (UP), Sep 16: BJP's Etawah MLA Sarita Bhadauriya fell onto the railway tracks while vying to wave the green flag for the Agra-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express here on Monday.
Purported videos of the incident surfaced on social media.
The incident occurred amidst a crowded platform as the train arrived around 6 pm. The 61-year-old second-term BJP lawmaker was among a host of people holding the green flag as they stood at the platform, the video showed.
Following the virtual inauguration of the Vande Bharat train by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the train, numbered 20175, was flagged off by the Rail Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu from Agra.
When contacted by PTI, BJP's Etawah unit treasurer Sanjeev Bhadauriya said, "The MLA was helped off the track and she then waited for some time at the platform for the flag-off event."
"Later she consulted doctors and is resting at her home now. She did not suffer any visible physical injuries. If there is any internal injury, it is yet to be confirmed," Bhadauriya said.
The train made stops at Tundla before arriving at Etawah station. Upon its arrival, a commotion ensued on the platform as various political figures, including Samajwadi Party MP Jitendra Douwhare, former BJP MP Ram Shankar, and current MLA Sarita Bhadauriya, gathered to participate in the flag-off, the videos showed.
As the train's horn signalled its departure, the platform became chaotic with supporters jostling for position. In the ensuing melee, the MLA was pushed off the platform and she fell onto the railway tracks in front of the train, it showed.
The train was stopped in time by bystanders, preventing a major accident. Bhadauriya was quickly rescued from the tracks by the police and taken to the hospital, according to eyewitnesses.
Talking about the operation date for the Vande Bharat Express, PRO Prashasti Srivastava from the Agra division of the railways said that the date will be announced soon.
The train will cover the distance between Agra and Varanasi in approximately seven hours. The return train will operate as number 20176 from Varanasi to Agra, while the Agra-Varanasi service will be number 20175.
Etawah, UP: The flag-off ceremony for the Agra-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express faced chaos due to heavy rush, and BJP's Etawah Sadar MLA, Sarita Bhadoria, fell in front of the train pic.twitter.com/p10CfbDIF0
— IANS (@ians_india) September 16, 2024
