Students at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) have been protesting since Saturday the reinstatement of a professor, who was suspended over sexual harassment allegations last year.
Professor S.K. Chaubey of the Zoology Department was accused of passing indecent comments and making obscene gestures at female students during a study tour in October last year. Chaubey was suspended and a probe was ordered this year.
However, the professor was reinstated, with university officials saying that he has been censured after they looked at the internal complaints committee's report. Officials added that the actions will go into his service record.
“He was suspended till the time the inquiry report came. The highest decision-making body decided to give him the harshest punishment. The Chief Proctor, Deputy Chief Proctor and the Registrar have spoken with the students. They asked the students to discuss their issues with them,” Banaras Hindu University professor and spokesperson Rajesh Singh told reporters.
More students have joined the protests in the campus, holding up banners that read #misogynistVC on it, after Chaubey started taking classes a few days ago.
Singh requested students to stop the protests and added that the administration is willing to listen to their grievances. Students, however, have made it clear that they will protest till Chaubey is sacked and an FIR is filed against him.
The students alleged there are more sexual harassment allegations against the professor that should be investigated.
