JNU Student On Strike; Demands Action Over Sexual Harassment Complaint

A female student from the Jawaharlal Nehru University was allegedly sexually harassed on March 31 by four persons, including two former students. The incident reportedly took place when the survivor and a friend were taking a walk on campus at around 2 am. Following her complaint to the institute administration, she has started an indefinite strike alleging inaction. The university administration has ordered an inquiry into the incident, however, the woman alleged in her complaint that the accused were "roaming freely." She told the Press Trust of India, "It has been more than 30 hours since I first filed the complaint and no action whatsoever has been taken yet."

Speaking to the PTI, the survivor said, "There have been a bunch of formalities; my friends and I have been at the administration, leaving our classes, demanding justice, and doing all we can, while the perpetrators are roaming freely." Meanwhile, the university has said it is following due process.

JNU Student Alleges Inaction Over Sexual Harassment Complaint

On March 31, a female student of JNU was allegedly sexually harassed by four persons on campus. However, she said the University had taken no action following her complaint. JNU Chief Proctor Sudhir Kumar told the PTI, "We are following the due process which takes time. We also have to give a chance to the accused to provide their defence."

Kumar stated that the two students who were accused have been declared 'out-of-bounds from campus'. The survivor student demanded the immediate restraintment of one of the accused from Sabarmati Hostel, cancellation of the registration of the accused, and steps to ensure her and her friends' safety.

The student also raised an alert over the safety issues on the JNU campus. "It must be known that the person who harassed me and my friend resides in the same hostel as I do, and I am expected to go into the same hostel, the same corridors, the same mess, to face that person who has caused me such mental harassment," she said.

She also alleged that the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) had also shown ineffectiveness in addressing her concerns. "After witnessing the ineffectiveness of the JNUSU, I decided to take the matter into my own hands. They went to meet the proctor without the survivor while I and my friends were busy in formalities with the administration."