Odisha ‘sexual harassment' case: internal complaints committee report had not recommended any punitive action
The ICC report, which recently came out in the open, said the panel did not find any conclusive evidence to substantiate the charges of sexual harassment.
'Students should strive to uphold the reputation of institutions and improve the quality of education by keeping a cordial relationship with teachers and they should not indulge in character assassination without any proof,' the report said.
It said, 'Teachers should also closely study psychology of students and become compassionate in order to improve their academic growth.'
The ICC, constituted under the leadership of Jayashree Mishra following allegations of sexual harassment against Samir Kumar Sahoo — Head of the Bachelor of Education department at the college, did not recommend any punitive action in its report. The student had allegedly taken the extreme step of setting herself ablaze after her repeated complaints against the teacher went unaddressed.
Report contradictory
The ICC report contradicted the statement of several ICC members who, after the student's death, said that they had recommended the removal of the accused teacher from his current position. However, the final ICC report made no mention of any transfer or removal of the teacher from the post of department head.
The girl student's family members and friends and members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) — of which she was a member — alleged that even a temporary transfer or asking the accused teacher to go on leave, after her complaints, could have eased tensions and possibly prevented the tragedy. They further said that Sahoo influenced the outcome of the ICC inquiry by continuing in his role during the investigation.
The report said that the ICC conducted a five-day-long investigation and recorded the statements of the student, her father, 60 other students and college teachers.
Binaytosh Mishra, Director General of Police (Crime Branch), said there were discrepancies in the statements given by individuals connected to the case before and after the girl's death. He added that the Crime Branch, which is investigating into the incident, has gathered several key pieces of evidence and that the progress of the probe has been satisfactory.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
5 minutes ago
- Indian Express
37 years after raping a minor, Rajasthan man, now 53, is declared a juvenile
Thirty-seven years after he raped an 11-year-old girl in Rajasthan's Ajmer, a man was declared a juvenile by the Supreme Court, which upheld his conviction by lower courts but directed him to appear before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) instead. The man, now almost 53, was convicted and sentenced in February 1993 by the Additional Sessions Judge, Kishangarh, Ajmer, for rape and wrongful confinement. This was upheld by the Rajasthan High Court in July last year. However, his lawyers claimed before the SC bench, comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, that he was a juvenile at the time of the incident in November 1988. They said that his date of birth is September 14, 1972, and therefore, on the date of the incident, his age would be 16 years 2 months and 3 days. Since he was a juvenile, the proceedings as held cannot sustain, especially the sentence, they said. They had also prayed that an inquiry be held to determine his age 'so that he may get the benefits of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007.' In January this year, the SC directed the Ajmer District and Sessions Judge to conduct an inquiry into the claims of the petitioner, complete its findings in eight weeks and report to the SC. After the school admission and other documents confirmed his date of birth in September 1972, the SC ruled, 'The Appellant was therefore a juvenile on the date of commission of the crime.' With the issue of age not being raised in earlier courts, the SC said that 'authoritative judgments passed by this Court … (have) categorically held that the plea of juvenility can be raised before any court and has to be recognised at any stage, even after disposal of the case.' 'Consequently, the sentence as imposed by the Trial Court and upheld by the High Court will have to be set aside, as the same cannot sustain. We order accordingly,' the SC said, referring the case to the Board for passing appropriate orders and directed the man to appear before the Board on September 15, 2025.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
NDPS cases surge in Kerala's Ernakulam: Over 2,800 registered by excise and police in first seven months of 2025
The Ernakulam excise division spread across 15 range offices, 7 circle offices and an enforcement squad has registered 866 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and arrested 862 accused during the period between January 1, 2025 and July 18, 2025. Besides, 39 vehicles used for smuggling drugs and ₹5.82 lakh have also been seized during the period. Though ganja continues to dominate the drug market with the seizure pegged at 357 kilograms, synthetic drugs continue to show a rising trend. MDMA topped the list among the synthetic drugs with nearly 408 grams seized. Nearly 348 grams of heroin have been seized during the period followed by hashish with 169 grams. Among the other seized items were brown sugar (34 grams), charas (47 grams), hashish oil (60 grams), methamphetamine (13 grams), LSD (0.84 grams), nitrazepam tablets (27 grams), lorazepam (120 grams), buprenorphine tablets (6.15 grams), tramadol (7 grams), clonazepam (9 grams), and hybrid ganja (2 grams). Two guns seized Two guns have also been seized. 'We have been able to tighten up the enforcement and register more cases during this year as many pending vacancies in our offices could be filled. Ganja continues to dominate the drug market while synthetic drugs are also being seized in small quantities almost on a daily basis. One thing we have noticed is the increasing number of women being used as carriers,' said T.M. Maju, Excise Deputy Commissioner, Ernakulam. He said drugs are being increasingly smuggled in through trains as excise has intensified checking inter-State buses. The Ernakulam Rural police have registered 2,068 NDPS cases in the first six months of this year, which has surpassed the total number of cases, 2,037, registered during the whole of 2024. Action has been initiated against 2,197 during the period. During the period, 20 kilograms of ganja were seized, which was more than 225 kilograms seized during the entire 2024. MDMA seized as on June 30, 2025, stood at 750 grams, which was exactly the total seizure during 2024. Besides, 88 grams of hashish oil and 228 grams of heroin have also been seized as against 1,200 grams and 400 grams seized during 2024. Besides, 500 sacks of banned tobacco products were seized from a go-down near Perumbavur from where supplies were being made to other States. In another incident, 25 kilograms of ganja were found hidden in cycle tubes. 'Ganja is being increasingly smuggled in from Assam, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal targeting mostly the migrant community. Bengaluru, Goa, and Delhi are among the destinations from which synthetic drugs are mostly smuggled in,' said Rural police sources. District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) M. Hemalatha has intensified the drive against drugs.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Bidar horror: 4-year-old girl raped during school hours; admitted in ICU
NEW DELHI: A four-year-old girl was allegedly raped during school hours in Bidar. The incident came to light when girl's mother was changing her clothes after school. A case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at the Bidar Women's Police Station. The minor has been admitted to ICU of BRIMS Hospital in Bidar, where she is undergoing treatment.
