WhatsApp chat triggers JNU sexual harassment probe against professor, 11 students register complaint | India News - Hindustan Times

**JNU launches internal probe after WhatsApp chat fuels sexual‑harassment allegations**

A WhatsApp conversation that surfaced among students of the Jawaharlar Nehru University (JNU) has prompted the institution’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to open a formal inquiry into alleged sexual harassment by a faculty member. Eleven students have filed written complaints, contending that the professor used a campus‑resident setting to make “inappropriate advances” and that the content of the chat demonstrated a pattern of misconduct. The complaints were submitted to the ICC on Friday, invoking the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, which mandates a prompt, confidential, and impartial investigation.

The university’s registrar confirmed that the ICC, constituted under the Act, has taken cognizance of the matter and will conduct hearings in accordance with its standard procedures. The professor, whose name has not been disclosed pending the outcome of the probe, has been instructed to refrain from any academic or administrative duties until the committee completes its fact‑finding. In a statement, the university emphasized its “zero‑tolerance” stance on harassment and pledged to ensure the safety and well‑being of all members of the JNU community while safeguarding the rights of the accused.

Student groups have rallied in support of the complainants, demanding swift action and greater transparency in the handling of such cases. Meanwhile, faculty bodies have urged adherence to due‑process norms, warning against trial‑by‑media that could prejudice the investigation. The ICC’s findings are expected to be submitted to the university’s Vice‑Chancellor within the statutory 90‑day window, after which appropriate disciplinary measures—ranging from reprimand to termination—will be considered based on the evidence.

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