NEW DELHI — A professor who was accused of molesting a PhD student at Delhi's prestigious St Stephen's college has stepped down from his post of Bursar. The Human Resource Development Ministry has sent a notice to Delhi University seeking a report on the case.
Kumar, an assistant professor in the college's chemistry department, was denied anticipatory bail on Tuesday by a Delhi court.
A bursar is an official entrusted with managing funds in a school or college.
"HRD ministry has sent a directive to Delhi University seeking a report in connection with the sexual harassment case. The communication was forwarded by DU Registrar to the college and I have sent a status report on the same to the university," St Stephen's Principal Valson Thampu said.
The student had alleged that Kumar, 40, had sexually harassed her in October 2013 in the laboratory and accused Thampu of trying to protect him when she reported the matter to college authorities.
The matter was registered with St Stephen's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), a statutory body to deal with such complaints. A complaint was also sent by the girl to Delhi University's chemistry department.
"It wasn't clear from the HRD directive whether a status report has been sought from both the committees or St Stephen's alone," said Thampu.
DU spokesperson Malay Neerav said that the university too would respond to the MHRD.
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