Odisha ‘sexual harassment' case: internal complaints committee report had not recommended any punitive action
The ICC report, which recently came out in the open, said the panel did not find any conclusive evidence to substantiate the charges of sexual harassment.
'Students should strive to uphold the reputation of institutions and improve the quality of education by keeping a cordial relationship with teachers and they should not indulge in character assassination without any proof,' the report said.
It said, 'Teachers should also closely study psychology of students and become compassionate in order to improve their academic growth.'
The ICC, constituted under the leadership of Jayashree Mishra following allegations of sexual harassment against Samir Kumar Sahoo — Head of the Bachelor of Education department at the college, did not recommend any punitive action in its report. The student had allegedly taken the extreme step of setting herself ablaze after her repeated complaints against the teacher went unaddressed.
Report contradictory
The ICC report contradicted the statement of several ICC members who, after the student's death, said that they had recommended the removal of the accused teacher from his current position. However, the final ICC report made no mention of any transfer or removal of the teacher from the post of department head.
The girl student's family members and friends and members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) — of which she was a member — alleged that even a temporary transfer or asking the accused teacher to go on leave, after her complaints, could have eased tensions and possibly prevented the tragedy. They further said that Sahoo influenced the outcome of the ICC inquiry by continuing in his role during the investigation.
The report said that the ICC conducted a five-day-long investigation and recorded the statements of the student, her father, 60 other students and college teachers.
Binaytosh Mishra, Director General of Police (Crime Branch), said there were discrepancies in the statements given by individuals connected to the case before and after the girl's death. He added that the Crime Branch, which is investigating into the incident, has gathered several key pieces of evidence and that the progress of the probe has been satisfactory.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
34 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Bring down age of consent from 18 to 16 years, Supreme Court told
The Supreme Court has been urged by amicus curiae and senior advocate Indira Jaising to read down the statutory age of consent from 18 to 16 years. Ms. Jaising, who is assisting the top court in "Nipun Saxena v. Union of India" case, has filled her written submissions challenging the blanket criminalisation of sexual activity involving adolescents aged 16 to 18 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012 and Section 375 of IPC. She has argued the current law criminalises consensual romantic relationships among adolescents and violates their constitutional rights. Ms. Jaising said the legal framework wrongly equates consensual relationships between adolescents with abuse, ignoring their autonomy, maturity, and capacity to consent. 'There is no rational reason or empirical data to justify the increase in the age of consent from 16 to 18 years,' Ms. Jaising submitted, noting that the age had remained at 16 for over 70 years until it was raised by the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013. She pointed out the increase came without debate and went against the Justice Verma Committee's recommendation to retain 16 as the age of consent. The amicus curiae submitted adolescents today attain puberty earlier and are capable of forming romantic and sexual relationships of their choice. Scientific and social data, including findings from the National Family Health Survey, indicate sexual activity among teenagers is not uncommon, she said. Ms. Jaising cited a 180% rise in prosecutions under POCSO involving minors aged 16–18 between 2017 and 2021. 'Most complaints are filed by parents, often against the girl's will, in cases involving inter-caste or inter-faith relationships,' she said, cautioning criminalising consensual sex 'forces young couples into hiding, marriage or legal trouble, instead of encouraging open dialogue and education". To address this, she urged the court to read into the law a 'close-in-age' exception, which would exempt consensual sexual acts between adolescents aged 16 to 18 from prosecution under POCSO and IPC. 'Criminalising sex between teenagers is arbitrary, unconstitutional, and against the best interests of children,' she said. The senior lawyer referred to international norms and Indian jurisprudence to argue that legal capacity is not strictly age-bound. Quoting the U.K.'s Gillick ruling and India's own Puttaswamy privacy judgement, she said 'autonomy in decision-making is central to the right to privacy' and must extend to adolescents capable of informed sexual choices. The submission also pointed to trends in various high courts, including Bombay, Madras, and Meghalaya, where judges have expressed disapproval over the automatic prosecution of adolescent boys under POCSO. These courts have stressed not all sexual acts involving minors are coercive, and the law should distinguish between abuse and consensual relationships. Ms. Jaising concluded urging the top court to declare consensual sex between adolescents aged between 16 and 18 was not a form of abuse and must be excluded from the purview of POCSO and rape laws. She called for a review of the mandatory reporting obligations under Section 19 of POCSO, which deter adolescents from seeking safe medical care. 'Sexual autonomy is part of human dignity,' she said, "and denying adolescents the ability to make informed choices about their own bodies was a violation of Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Constitution."
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Balasore girl wasn't afraid of demanding accountability. Her death shows how society continues to fail women
She skips ahead of her friend near India Gate in Delhi, her infectious energy captured on a video that is now viral on social media. 'She is our power girl,' the friend wielding the camera can be heard saying. The girl turns to the camera and repeats: 'Power girl'. On July 12, the 20-year-old second-year Integrated student at the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore set herself on fire, succumbing to her injuries nearly 60 hours later in hospital. For about six months, the young woman in the video had been allegedly harassed by her professor. Since her death, social media has been flooded with videos of her — not just news reports about the self-immolation and harassment accusations, but also the reels and vlogs that she herself had shared. Of these, the one about her day out at India Gate stands out, capturing not just her spirit, but also the dreams that perhaps propelled her from Palasia village in Balasore district's Bhograi block to Fakir Mohan College. The most common sentiment expressed in the comments now being posted under the young woman's videos is disbelief — how, people ask, could a cheerful, spirited young woman take such a drastic step? A fuller picture emerges only when one watches other videos, news clips of her giving interviews to the media, her voice quivering but composed. In these clips, she speaks out against the assistant professor, also the head of the department (HOD), accusing him of asking for a 'favour', harassing her for months, and ultimately barring her from appearing for her fourth-semester examination. 'The reason I am speaking to the media now is because I want justice,' she says in one of the videos. She has left behind a deep sense of shock — not only over how her life ended, but that her many appeals to the college principal, police, local authorities and others appear to have gone unheard. Stories and theories about the nature of her harassment, and the 'suspicious' circumstances of her death have acquired a life of their own. Then, there are the videos which show why, even today, 12 years after the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act was passed, women like her, who find the courage to speak up against sexual harassment, continue to battle misunderstanding and hostility regarding their predicament. In another news clip that has been circulating, another assistant professor of English, and a member of the internal complaints committee (ICC) that looked into the student's complaint, tells reporters that although the HOD had apparently asked for 'favours, he did not cause her any harm'. She says, 'if she did not like what the HOD said, why did not she discuss it with him'. The HOD that the woman is referring to is the same authority figure who allegedly instigated other students to complain against her 'netagiri (activism)'. In its report, the ICC found the HOD to be merely 'rude' with students. Six years after the fire lit by the #MeToo movement, sexual harassment remains misunderstood and women who complain of it continue to be silenced. It is seen as an unavoidable reality of life that must be endured. Growing up in Balasore and other towns of Odisha, it seemed to me that the only way a girl could survive was by developing a teflon coating around the mind. We were accustomed to shrugging off unwanted and lewd comments and hands that reached out to touch us as we walked through narrow lanes on our way to college. Was there, perhaps, a yearning to be invisible, as they crossed a crowded town square or passed by a group of men ogling at them? They — we — didn't need lectures that normalised or excused the loathsome behaviour of men. Social conditioning was enough. From what I've read about her, this young woman appears to have done better than many girls of my time. She wasn't afraid to be heard and seen, and in speaking of her ordeal showed the kind of courage that few 20-year-olds can and do. Her father, in interviews, has spoken about her aspiration to become either a social activist or a teacher. That vision was rooted not just in ambition but also in confidence — perhaps bolstered by her active involvement with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), where she served as a coordinator of the Rastriya Kala Manch. The student was also a designated self-defence instructor, empowering college girls like herself. On July 15, the state government announced compensation for her family. The cheque was handed, four days later, to her family by Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi — there were cameras present to capture that moment too. His office, incidentally, was one of the several places she had approached for justice. This promptness from the authorities, so evident after her death, may have saved her life if only it had come earlier.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Gujarat ATS busts AQIS-linked terror module, arrests four for radicalising youth online
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested four individuals allegedly linked to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), dismantling what the agency described as an active terror module operating across multiple Indian states. The suspects were reportedly involved in disseminating jihadi propaganda and attempting to radicalise youth through social media platforms, according to reports from ANI and The Times of India. Accused identified across states The arrested individuals have been identified as Mohd Faiq Mohd Rizwan, resident of Faraskhana, Delhi; Mohd Fardeen Mohd Raees, of Fatehwadi, Ahmedabad; Zeeshan Ali Asif Ali, from Chhajrasi Colony, Sector 63, Noida; and Saifullah Qureshi, from Bhoi Wada, Modasa. All four are between the ages of 20 and 25, according to Gujarat ATS officials quoted by The Times of India. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Digital Marketing Others Artificial Intelligence Healthcare Cybersecurity MBA Leadership Technology CXO PGDM Product Management healthcare Design Thinking Data Science MCA Finance Degree Data Analytics Data Science Management Operations Management Project Management others Public Policy Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Digital Marketing and Analytics Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategy Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Social Media Marketing & Advertising Data Analytics & Measurement Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate Programme in Digital Marketing Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Two of the accused are from Gujarat, while the other two are from outside the state. They have been booked under sections 13, 18, 38, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and sections 113, 152, 196, and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), covering terrorist acts, criminal conspiracy, promotion of communal enmity, and acts threatening national unity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold Camper Vans 2025 in Ireland (See Prices) RV, Camper & Motorhomes | Search Ads Search Now Undo Jihadi content targeting democracy and religious communities DIG Sunil Joshi of Gujarat ATS told ANI that Deputy SP Harsh Upadhyay had received intelligence on 10 June about five Instagram accounts allegedly promoting AQIS propaganda. The suspects reportedly used Instagram and other platforms to circulate inflammatory videos, extremist fatwas, and calls for armed rebellion under the banner of "Ghazwa-e-Hind". The digital content included messages against Indian democracy, members of the Hindu community, and state institutions. According to The Times of India, the accused aimed to incite communal unrest and promote the establishment of an Islamic Khilafat . Officials stated that the group used multiple social media platforms and suspicious mobile applications to coordinate and spread their message. Live Events Arrest operation and material recovered Following surveillance, ATS teams apprehended all four suspects. According to ANI, a sword and jihadi material linked to Al-Qaeda were recovered from Fardeen Shaikh. Mohd Faiq was allegedly in contact with Pakistani Instagram accounts that provided content for jihadist propaganda . Investigators also seized documents referencing a suspected plot referred to as " Operation Sindoor ". ATS officials said the related social media posts were anti-government, pro-Pakistan, and intended to provoke religious sentiments. The complaint submitted by Gujarat ATS, as cited by The Times of India, indicates that incriminating material such as jihadi literature, communication with suspected handlers, and digital content supporting secessionist ideologies were found in the initial investigation. Legal proceedings and wider probe Saifullah Qureshi and Fardeen Shaikh were presented in court and remanded to 14 days in custody. The remaining two suspects are expected to be produced before the court on the following day. The ATS is also investigating the group's wider digital network, including unidentified collaborators believed to be engaged in similar online activity. According to The Times of India, the agency is exploring potential links to a 2023 case in which four Bangladeshi nationals were arrested in Gujarat for alleged ties to AQIS. Officials believe the current case may be part of a broader network promoting terrorism across India. Interrogation and digital forensics are ongoing.
