Sex case costs prof 9 increments, transfer

Mysore, January: After dillydallying for six months, the Syndicate of the University of Mysore has initiated action against Prof Shivabasavaiah accused of sexually harassing a research scholar.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, vice-chancellor Prof V?G?Talawar said the syndicate that met recently had decided to cut nine increments of the professor, besides transferring the accused to the PG centre at Chamarajanagar as a coordinator.

The action follows a report submitted by the women’s harassment complaint committee in June last holding the professor guilty of seeking sexual favours from research scholar Saritha.

Talawar said Shivabasavaiah had been appointed professor at the university in 2003 by direct recruitment. According to the government order, if the allegations of sexual harassment are proved, the salary of the accused could be reduced to the minimum.

The government has been informed of the action taken and Shivabasavaiah has also been given the transfer order, he said.

Shivabasavaiah was earlier suspended as the chairman of the Department of Zoology. Even as the vice-chancellor was addressing the media, Saritha’s husband D?R Vijaykumar barged into the chamber and created a ruckus.?He said he was unhappy with the action taken by the Syndicate. “You have failed in providing justice. What would you have done, if your wife or children were in a similar situation,” he asked Talawar. The?vice-chancelor, who initially maintained silence, later accepted a memorandum from Vijaykumar.