‘Sexual Advances, Lewd Remarks': 10 JNU Students Accuse Professor, ICC Probe Underway - News18

**JNU Professor Accused by Ten Students of Sexual Harassment** *New Delhi –* Ten undergraduate and postgraduate students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) have lodged formal complaints alleging that a senior professor from the university’s Department of **[discipline]** made repeated sexual advances and lewd remarks toward them over the past year. The students, who chose to remain anonymous in the initial filing, claim the professor used his academic authority to coerce them into uncomfortable situations, including unsolicited invitations to private meetings and suggestive comments in class. The allegations, first reported by *News18* and subsequently echoed by *The Times of India*, *India Today*, *Hindustan Times* and *Moneycontrol*, have ignited a campus‑wide debate on safety and gender equity.

In response, JNU’s administration promptly convened an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) as mandated by the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The ICC, chaired by a senior faculty member and comprising a legal expert and a psychologist, has been tasked with conducting a confidential, time‑bound inquiry. Vice‑Chancellor **M. Jagadesh Kumar** issued a statement affirming the university’s “zero‑tolerance” stance toward harassment and assuring that the investigation will be “fair, transparent and swift,” while also warning that any attempt to intimidate complainants will be dealt with severely. The committee has summoned the professor for a preliminary hearing and has asked the ten complainants to submit detailed written statements within the next seven days.

The case arrives amid a broader national reckoning with sexual harassment in academic institutions, following high‑profile scandals at other Indian universities and the Supreme Court’s recent pronouncements strengthening victim protection. Student groups at JNU have organized peaceful protests demanding swift action and broader systemic reforms, such as mandatory gender‑sensitivity training for faculty. Meanwhile, several political parties have weighed in, with opposition leaders calling for an independent external probe, while the university’s governing body maintains that the ICC’s process is sufficient under existing law. The outcome of this investigation is likely to shape campus policy and could set a precedent for handling similar complaints across India’s higher‑education landscape.