Unsafe Haven for students: Confronting Harassment by Professors on Indian University Campuses

 

A recent incident has highlighted the persistent issue of sexual harassment in Indian educational institutions. The case involves Professor Velayutham Saravanan of Jamia Millia Islamia, who was accused of sexually harassing four PhD scholars. According to reports, the professor would phone a student late at night and threaten to give her bad advice if she didn’t perform well. One student stated, “He even makes fun of women professors.” Under his watch, students did not feel secure. Despite attempts to ignore his behavior while seeking input on their work, the harassment continued. (Source: Maktoob Media)

This incident raises serious concerns about the safety of students and scholars in Indian academia, where teachers are often regarded as second guardians. Educational spaces, often hailed as ‘second homes,’ reveal a deeper systemic issue of inaction.

In 2020, the Times of India reported a 50% increase in the number of sexual harassment cases reported to Internal Complaints Committees (ICC). However, the efficacy of these committees is questionable, as 40.3% of students did not feel comfortable reporting instances of sexual harassment to the ICC. This statistic underscores the challenges students face in seeking justice and support.

This is not the first time female students have faced sexual harassment, including inappropriate comments about their looks, clothes, complexion, and academic abilities. For instance, earlier this year, a 22-year-old student from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) reported being sexually harassed and receiving derogatory comments about her looks by a professor, forcing her to leave the campus for her hometown.

In 2023, students from Kalakshetra, a prestigious dance institution in Chennai, alleged sexual harassment involving faculty members. Allegations surfaced against several staff, including dance professor Hari Padman, who was subsequently arrested. Similarly, a woman working at the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA), filed a sexual harassment complaint against the director, RC Natarajan. The internal complaints committee was reconstituted shortly after, prompting her to file a complaint with the local complaints committee and the police.

Likewise, a first-year postgraduate student accused a professor of harassing and insulting him over his reservation status and the backwardness of his hometown. The student alleged that the professor said people from the Kalyan Karnataka region tend to behave like rowdies.

Another notable case involves senior journalist Sonal Kellogg, who filed a complaint against Dhiren Avashia, the former Director of the Centre for Development Communication at Gujarat University, for molestation incidents that occurred during her time as a student in the late 1980s. The complaint was filed decades later, in 2016.

In 2017, a female student at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) claimed that three male non-teaching staff members had harassed her sexually on campus. After she reported the event, the administration’s lackluster response sparked a wave of student protests calling for stronger safety protocols and tougher actions against harassment.

In 2018, a female PhD student at Pondicherry University accused her professor of sexual harassment. According to her, the professor made unwanted advances and threatened to ruin her academic future if she didn’t comply. The case received substantial media attention, leading to demands for stronger laws to safeguard students.

In 2019, a female student at Aligarh Muslim University accused a professor of sexual harassment, alleging that he made vulgar remarks and unwanted physical advances. Students on campus staged rallies in response to the incident, calling for a thorough inquiry and the professor’s suspension.

The issue of sexual harassment in Indian educational institutions remains a pressing concern, as recent incidents have shown. During a field trip in 2020, a female student from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) reported being sexually harassed by a lecturer. The professor allegedly used his position of authority to intimidate her and made unwanted advances. This incident underscores the urgent need for improved procedures to address harassment in educational environments.

In 2021, a female student at the University of Hyderabad filed a complaint against a professor for sexual harassment. She alleged that the professor made inappropriate comments and attempted to touch her inappropriately. This incident led to student protests and demands for stricter enforcement of anti-harassment policies. Similarly, another female student at the same university reported a lecturer for sexual harassment, claiming he made offensive remarks and improper physical advances. These cases highlight the ongoing struggle students face in seeking justice and support.

In India, several high-profile cases have highlighted the issues of sexual harassment by teachers in educational institutions. These include threats of failure or manipulation of grades, negative recommendations, or refusal to provide necessary references for internships, jobs, or further studies. Educators may deliberately delay or withhold feedback on assignments, projects, or theses, making it difficult for students to meet deadlines and progress in their studies. They may also exploit students’ personal vulnerabilities, isolate them from academic opportunities such as research projects, seminars, or extracurricular activities, and make them feel excluded and marginalized.

For example, a crowdsourced list in 2017 identified 58 professors from 29 Indian colleges and universities accused of crimes ranging from sexual harassment to rape. Despite the existence of internal complaints committees and legal frameworks like the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, many victims are reluctant to file formal complaints due to fear of retaliation or lack of faith in the system.

Despite the prevalence of such incidents, sexual harassment on campuses is not debated as much as it should be. Media coverage and academic discussions on the topic are limited, leaving many cases unreported or inadequately addressed by institutions. According to a report, over 60% of female students from various educational institutions have faced sexual harassment. Despite the implementation of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act (POSH) in 2013 and the regulation mandating the formation of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in universities, there has been a significant increase in reported cases across the country. Data from 2019 reveals that 29 out of 188 institutions have yet to establish ICCs.

 

This means that these systems do not actually function in the real world. The accused often hold a disproportionate amount of power. These committees are actually anti-complainant by nature, based on their own makeup, and victim shaming and moral policing are carried out in these spaces. As a result, survivors are not allowed to voice their opinions.

Even when ICCs are established, navigating the procedure for filing and resolving complaints remains an uphill task for many students. The lack of gender sensitization programs, coupled with general apathy from university administrations, makes students feel alienated from spaces that are supposed to safeguard their well-being.

The issue of sexual harassment in Indian educational institutions is a pressing concern that requires immediate and effective action. Ensuring the safety and well-being of students should be a top priority for all educational institutions. It is imperative that authorities take stringent actions against perpetrators and create a supportive environment where victims feel safe to report harassment.

The most disheartening aspect, though, is that students frequently hesitate to report harassment incidents out of fear. This concern arises from a protective culture that gives people in authority in educational institutions a pass on consequences.

Undoubtedly, the complex and frightening nature of the complaint process and the hierarchical structure of educational establishments can make matters worse. More deterrents for victims to pursue their complaints may come from bureaucratic red tape and a lack of openness. This may make it challenging for students to question teachers and other authority figures. Situations where students feel intimidated or pressured into silence might result from this power disparity.

Professors and teachers who engage in such unethical and illegal behavior often exploit their positions of authority to manipulate and intimidate students. These actions are not only unethical but also illegal. It is crucial for educational institutions to have robust mechanisms in place to prevent such abuse of power and to support students who come forward with complaints. Creating a safe and supportive environment where students feel empowered to report misconduct without fear of retaliation is essential for fostering a healthy academic community.

Strengthening victim support networks, raising public awareness and educating the public, and improving the application of current laws are just a few of the many strategies needed to address these problems. For students to feel empowered to speak out against harassment, schools must provide a secure and encouraging environment.