Vadodara: Female students and staff members of Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) have sought the removal of an assistant professor in the geography department, alleging that his conduct made them feel uncomfortable and unsafe on campus.The complaints include allegations of persistent staring, asking personal questions, sending messages, failing to maintain appropriate physical distance and photographing female students despite their objections. Some students also alleged that the teacher followed them outside classrooms and towards their hostel.The university has already served a show-cause notice on the assistant professor, who joined MSU about a year ago. Its women’s grievance cell is probing the matter following complaints from students and staff members.The issue came to the fore on Saturday when girl students, through National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), submitted a representation to the dean of Faculty of Science, seeking action against the teacher. NSUI leaders threatened a protest if the university failed to act on their demand for his removal.Although the teacher belongs to Faculty of Science, female students and staff members of Faculty of Arts too have submitted complaints against him, sources confirmed to TOI.MSU officiating registrar K M Chudasama confirmed that a formal complaint had been received and that the matter was being investigated by the women’s grievance cell.One of the key concerns raised by students was the alleged use of photographs to record attendance. They claimed that the practice had continued for several months, even after they objected, and demanded that attendance be recorded through conventional attendance sheets instead.Students said they had verbally raised concerns with the head of the department and faculty dean on several occasions over the past two to three months. They alleged that the behaviour continued despite these interventions, prompting them to submit a formal representation.Earlier, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) too had submitted a representation against the teacher.“We have forwarded the complaint received from students and staff members to the university for an appropriate decision,” said Faculty of Science dean Vipul Kalamkar.Teacher claims victimisationIn his reply to the show-cause notice, the assistant professor reportedly said that photographs were taken to maintain a record of attendance when only a few students attended classes. In response to the show-cause notice served on him, the teacher has apparently argued that he is being victimised by other staff members of the same department. The university is examining his explanation alongside the allegations before deciding on further action.
