Miscellaneous news and discussion - 2

[Bharatvarsh]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->AMU prof suspended for sexual assault of US scholar
Wednesday May 17 2006 00:00 IST

ALIGARH: Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has suspended Mohammad Shabbir, a senior professor of law, for alleged sexual harassment of a research scholar from the US. The suspension comes more than a year after the complaint was lodged.

The victim, aged 30, had been working last year on a research project on university-going women and their views on the Muslim Personal Law when the alleged incident took place in the professor’s chamber. The Vice-Chancellor had placed the professor under suspension, said university spokesperson Rahat Abrar.

The victim’s complaint was taken up by the Women’s Grievances Cell and a five-member committee headed by Shamim Zahan Rizwi looked into the matter. According to Amina Kishore, principal, Women’s College, and a member of the probe panel, there was prima facie evidence to suggest that the professor had indulged in sexual misconduct. ‘‘The recommendation of suspension has been made with the proviso that it is subject to the final disposal of the case,’’ said Kishore.

Shabbir, who has been teaching in the university since 1978 with a seven- year stint in International Islamic University in Malaysia, says he was not given a chance to explain. ‘‘I was sent a copy of the complaint demanding my response last year in March to which I had given a detailed reply. Now after 14 months, I am told that I am being suspended on recommendation of the committee,’’ he said. Kishore said the committee did not feel the need to call him in person as the written reply was sufficient to act upon. ‘‘There were no grey areas.’’

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?I...~assault~in~AMU<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->