NUJS Kolkata has received an internal complaint of sexual harassment from one of its vice chancellor’s (VC) staff members, against a senior employee in the registrar’s department, reports the Times of India.

The victim has reportedly alleged that she was receiving “lewd emails and objectionable proposals” from the accused for over a year, had complained to the administration and no action was taken, and has now filed a written complaint to the VC on the advice of the registrar to whom she had verbally complained.

NUJS has set up a committee comprising two senior faculty members, a senior non-teaching staff, and a teacher from Jadavpur University English department, to investigate the complaint. The accused has been suspended.

The accused told the paper yesterday that he had already resigned, and NUJS VC Ishwara Bhatt confirmed that he had received a call from the accused stating this intent, though the registrar said that he had received no resignation from the accused yet.

NUJS registrar Surajit Mukhopadhyay said:

“[…]This is the first time that such a controversy has happened in the university and we have taken very serious note of the matter. If the accused is proved guilty, strictest action according to the law of the land will be taken.”

Bhatt told the Times that NUJS would do everything to “uphold the dignity” of the complainant.