Mangaluru: The Mangalore University syndicate has decided to suspend one of its professors, two years after he was accused by a student of sexual harassment.

The development comes after the University was pulled up by the Karnataka State Women’s Commission for its inaction in the matter even though the internal committee had submitted a report regarding the incident on October 22.

The incident in question occurred in December of 2018, when a University student filed a complaint with the internal complaints committee against professor Arabi U, a professor in the economics department, for sexually harassing her. When no action was taken by the varsity, the student approached the Karnataka State Women’s Commission in the same month, soon after which the incident came to light.

In October of 2020, the 10-member internal committee submitted the report to Registrar A M Khan in this regard in favour of the student. The committee, in its report, concluded that there was reason to believe that the professor sexually harassed the student. This report was not presented to the University’s syndicate.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor P S Yadapadithaya said that the professor, Arabi U will be issued a suspension order on November 2. A showcause notice will also be issued to the professor on the same day give the University an answer as to why his employment should not be terminated for “serious misconduct”, according to a TOI report.

The professor is expected to respond by November 12, according to the report. The syndicate is scheduled to hold its next meeting the same day.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor informed that Registrar A M Khan has been placed under investigation for “dereliction of duty”. He has also been asked to reply to a showcause notice for not presenting the internal committee’s report.