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AMU Women's Cell `active'

Staff Reporter

Cell has received 11 complaints in five years

ALIGARH: Responding to allegations that the Women's Cell on its campus was defunct, Aligarh Muslim University has issued a statement proclaiming that 11 complaints had been received by the Cell over the past five years. A post-graduate student of the University had recently complained of harassment on the campus and questioned the working of the women's cell.

In an official statement, the University said: "The Vice-Chancellor has reconstituted the Women's Cell with Shamim Jahan Rizvi as its chairperson and Prof. Zakia Siddiqui, Prof. Amina Kishore, Dr. Nahid Nizami and the Proctor as its members. The Registrar is the Cell's convener and nodal officer."

While pointing out that the Women's Cell was constituted in 2001 as per directives of the University Grants Commission, the University said detailed hearings are being held in all the cases.

According to the University, the services of a teacher in the AMU Blind School were terminated after charges of sexual harassment against him were proved, while another professor was suspended on such charges but later exonerated by a court.

"One lecturer in the Faculty of Agriculture was suspended but after the enquiry, which was conducted by Prof. (Ms.) Shad Bano Ahmad, he was found to be not guilty. Charges against another lecturer in the Faculty of Law were enquired into by Prof. (Ms.) Amina Kishore and she found that the charges were unsubstantiated,'' the release said.

According to the University, a complaint was also received against a Deputy Registrar, though it could not be substantiated.

"More recently, show-cause notices have been issued to two senior faculty members on charges of sexual harassment."

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