IIM Indore has initiated a sexual harassment probe against a student-member of its placement cell. A female student leveled the charge, prompting the institute’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to launch an investigation. The accused student has stepped down from the Placement Committee, complying with an ICC directive issued on Thursday.
Investigation Initiated
IIM Indore Director Himanshu Rai confirmed the investigation. He stated the ICC received a formal complaint from a female student. The complaint alleges she was sexually harassed by a fellow student. This student was also a member of the institute’s Placement Committee. The incident reportedly occurred during a program held outside the campus.
Immediately upon receiving the complaint, the ICC acted. It instructed the accused student to resign from the Placement Committee. The student complied with this directive. The institute confirmed the student is no longer part of the committee.
ABVP Demands Action
The local unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) sent a memorandum to the IIM Director. This memorandum alleged sexual harassment against “some female students” by a placement committee member. The incidents were said to have occurred during an off-campus event.
ABVP’s Key Demands:
- The IIM Indore management must ensure a fair, transparent, and timely investigation into the allegations.
- The institute should provide mental, legal, and administrative support to the victims.
- The current Placement Committee must be dissolved immediately.
- A new Placement Committee should be formed to prevent any undue pressure or influence on the investigation.
Legal Framework for Harassment Complaints
The investigation at IIM Indore will follow the Vishaka guidelines. The Supreme Court established these guidelines to provide a framework for preventing and investigating sexual harassment complaints at workplaces. These guidelines mandate the formation of Internal Complaints Committees.
ICCs are set up at workplaces to hear and resolve complaints of sexual harassment against women. These committees operate under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The Act requires workplaces with 10 or more employees to form an ICC. The IIM Indore ICC will conduct its investigation in accordance with these established legal provisions.