Professor Swaran Singh of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has been terminated from the School of International Studies after he was found guilty of sexual misconduct involving a Japanese embassy official.
The university's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) investigated this matter and accused Singh of making inappropriate sexual remarks during a university event. This decision was made based on the audio recordings submitted by the Japanese embassy, which were deemed credible by the ICC.
Following the committee's report, the matter was placed before the executive council (JNU's highest statutory decision-making body), which approved the dismissal of Professor Singh without any retirement benefits. In this investigation, the council also found out that similar misconduct complaints against Singh have been filed in the past, which indicates a repeated pattern of misconduct.
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Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit issued a statement emphasising that the university is committed to ensuring a safe environment for all students, staff, and guests. There is no place for sexual harassment at JNU. This action sends a clear message that we will not tolerate such behaviour from anyone, regardless of their position,
she stated.
The disciplinary action has been taken against 3 more faculty members to avoid such instances. The Executive Council approved reforms to further strengthen the Internal Complaints Committee by allowing student representation, aiming for more transparency and trust in the system.
Professor Swaran Singh was affiliated with the Centre for International Politics, Organisation and Disarmament (CIPOD). The university received the complaint around May last year. The ICC conducted a thorough investigation and discovered that he had previously faced similar allegations of misconduct during his tenure as an associate professor as well,
the official stated.
The incident has reignited conversations about professional conduct within academic institutions and emphasised the importance of strong institutional accountability. JNU’s prompt and firm response has been widely appreciated, with many viewing it as a model for addressing such cases effectively across universities in India.
With inputs from agencies
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