Sikkim teacher axed over girl molest
RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, 15 May 2019, Gangtok: The Sikkim University authorities have removed Silajit Guha, the head of department of mass communications, from his post pending an inquiry into an allegation of molestation levelled against him by one of his girl students.
In a notification issued on Monday night, the varsity also barred Guha from evaluating answer scripts and entering the mass communication department. "We have taken the decisions on the basis of the recommendations of the internal complaints committee of the university," said T. K. Kaul, the registrar of the varsity.
Kaul said the action against Guha was initiated on the basis of a written complaint filed by the victim on Sunday. "We referred the complaint to the presiding officer of the internal complaints committee, which immediately swung into action. On the basis of the recommendation of the internal complaints committee, we have removed professor Silajit Guha as the head of the department of mass communications so that he is not in a position to influence the inquiry," he added.
Neither the victim nor the university lodged a police complaint. Sources said the molestation had taken place at a marriage reception in a Ranipool hotel on May 5 where both the victim and Guha were guests along with other staff and students of the varsity.
"We came to know about the incident from persons outside the university. We took three days to establish the veracity of the incident, following which a written complaint was lodged with the university," said Palsang Tamang, the president of the Sikkim University Students' Association.
The association has demanded stern action against Guha if he is found guilty by the inquiry committee. "When such incidents happen in our university, we must speak up. If we don't speak up now, the culture of suppressing the voices of students will become the norm," said a student.
When contacted by The Telegraph in the afternoon for his version, Guha sought half-an-hour to formulate his response, but did not get back. Subsequent calls to him went unanswered.
In a notification issued on Monday night, the varsity also barred Guha from evaluating answer scripts and entering the mass communication department. "We have taken the decisions on the basis of the recommendations of the internal complaints committee of the university," said T. K. Kaul, the registrar of the varsity.
Kaul said the action against Guha was initiated on the basis of a written complaint filed by the victim on Sunday. "We referred the complaint to the presiding officer of the internal complaints committee, which immediately swung into action. On the basis of the recommendation of the internal complaints committee, we have removed professor Silajit Guha as the head of the department of mass communications so that he is not in a position to influence the inquiry," he added.
Neither the victim nor the university lodged a police complaint. Sources said the molestation had taken place at a marriage reception in a Ranipool hotel on May 5 where both the victim and Guha were guests along with other staff and students of the varsity.
"We came to know about the incident from persons outside the university. We took three days to establish the veracity of the incident, following which a written complaint was lodged with the university," said Palsang Tamang, the president of the Sikkim University Students' Association.
The association has demanded stern action against Guha if he is found guilty by the inquiry committee. "When such incidents happen in our university, we must speak up. If we don't speak up now, the culture of suppressing the voices of students will become the norm," said a student.
When contacted by The Telegraph in the afternoon for his version, Guha sought half-an-hour to formulate his response, but did not get back. Subsequent calls to him went unanswered.
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