Former Delhi University teacher Pavitra Bhardwaj committed suicide over alleged sexual harassment by college principal
A Delhi University college principal has been booked for abetting the suicide of a former employee who had accused him of sexual harassment in her dying statement.
GK Arora, the principal of Ambedkar College, had allegedly harassed Pavitra Bharadwaj, who worked as a lab assistant at the college until she was sacked last year, allegedly after reporting him.
Pavitra, 40, set herself on fire outside the Delhi government headquarters two weeks ago, and died a week later. She had left behind a suicide note blaming the principal. After her death, teachers and other college staff protested against the principal and demanded action against him.
Pavitra had repeatedly complained of harassment by the principal, first to the Delhi Police, and then the university, but she was dismissed in 2012 after an internal panel of the college backed Mr Arora, who rubbished Pavitra's charges. Some teachers and staff alleged that the principal had her sacked on flimsy grounds.
The university's anti-sexual harassment panel, who Pavitra had also approached, had also given the principal a clean chit. She alleged that she had received no help even from the National Human Rights Commission and National Commission for Women.
The principal had been questioned but the police had earlier not filed a case citing lack of evidence. Pavitra's husband, a head constable in the Delhi police, said even the police did not act on her complaint.