Trichy: Two professors of Bharathidasan University are in the dock over allegations of sexual harassment of students. One of them is from the remote sensing department, and the other from economics, who was ‘demoted’ to commerce department earlier this year. The allegation against the economics professor is more than a year old while the one against the remote science professor surfaced six months ago.

Even as a resolution was moved at the syndicate meeting on Sept 22 seeking approval for action against them, one of the professors has appealed to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) claiming the allegations are false.

Top sources in the higher education department said the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) report in this regard was placed at the syndicate meeting held on Sept 22. The syndicate has sought either termination of services or compulsory retirement. However, the minutes of the meeting are yet to be approved as they require the nod of all syndicate members. “The ICC report has proved the allegations. While the ICC can establish the charges, only the syndicate can recommend action. The syndicate seems firm on either one of the actions,” another source said.

The professor who moved NCSC on Sept 25 called for ‘another chance to prove his innocence.’ The letter sent by NCSC to BDU, accessed by TOI, stated that the commission had decided to investigate the matter in pursuance of powers conferred under Article 338 of the Constitution. “You are hereby requested to submit the facts and information on the action taken on the allegations/matters within 15 days,” the letter addressed to the BDU registrar said. Asked about this, the senior higher education official said, “If the syndicate committee resolution is approved, it’s ultimate.”