JNU professors seek separate FIRs in all complaints against Johri

NEW DELHI: Fifty-four JNU professors on Monday demanded registration of separate FIRs in all eight complains of sexual harassment filed against professor Atul Johri.

They accused the police of disregarding procedures and petitioned deputy commissioner of police (SouthWest) Milind Dumbere’s. The teachers said that eight complaints were filed by as many women students, however, the Delhi police had registered only one FIR based on only one of the complaints.

Two days ago, the Delhi police registered an FIR against professor Johri following allegations of sexual harassment by a group of women students.

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Monday issued a notice to the Vasant Kunj police station, seeking status report and reasons for not arresting professor Johri in a sexual harassment case.

The women’s panel said it has received a representation from the students of the School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, regarding the alleged sexual harassment of women students by professor Johri.

Meanwhile, JNU students took out a protest march to the Vasant Kunj police station, demanding professor Johri’s arrest and accused the police of “inaction” in the sexual harassment case.

“Even though you have received 8 complaints, each of which reports incidents that are distinct and separated by space and time, you have chosen to register only one FIR under only one of the names. We are shocked to learn this as the law requires that a separate FIR is registered for each complaint,” the petition by JNU professors said.

Such serious sexual offences are being treated in breach of law and the Supreme Court judgments on the matter, the professors said. They also demanded separate statements of all the complainants be recorded today itself

“This disregard for even basic procedure suggests to us that the Delhi Police has no intention of seriously proceeding against Atul Johri,” the petition said.

They also demanded the accused professor be not allowed to make any contact with the complainants.

“We seek an assurance from the Delhi Police to take measures to ensure that professor Johri is prevented from making any contact with the complainants,” they said.

They added the DCP should intervene to ensure the complainants’ health and safety are safeguarded.