Sexual Harassment at the Universities

Sexual Harassment at the work place for women had raised significant voice and a few rules are implemented by law. Sexual harassment at universities is going unnoticed. Investigations are made only for name sake. The investigation reports are getting biased and the victim is denied of justice. There is no article in our constitution which especially stress on point of harassment of women at work place. But there are few provisions in section 354 of IPC deals with the ‘assault or criminal force to a woman with the intent outrage her modesty’ and section 509 of IPC deals with ‘word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman’. These are not enough, strict rules has to be implemented for safeguarding women’s modesty.

Professors or deans at the universities using their power and position harassing girl students and women colleagues, not even bothering about their respect and duty. This kind of harassment is classified as Power – Play using one’s power in getting or keeping a job, favorable grades, recommendations, credentials, projects, promotions, orders and other types of opportunities in exchange of sexual favors. A person with a minimum of twenty to twenty five of experienced and qualified professors will be the guides and harass the students of the age half of their age. A few cases of harassments are getting public because of non – compromising nature of girls (we should encourage such girls) but who will care for those compromise fearing to the respect in the society and not been able to face the consequences of accusing the guides.

The guides / professors who were supposed to be the priests of knowledge getting involved in harassing their own students is a shame and indirectly creates a feeling of insecurity among girls who want to pursue higher studies at university campus. At least the faculties or people in power at private and government colleges will fear of serious punishment by management and betterment committees. But there is no such actions are being taken on university faculty.

We the Indians have introduced the concept of universities of the world. Nalanda and Takshashila (Taxila) are the two universities considered to be the oldest universities of world. Universities in such a country supposed to be the knowledge centers are becoming the centers of sexual harassment which is disgusting and disastrous.