Woman Ph.D. scholar alleges sexual harassment by AU guide; NCW writes to VC for probe

Visakhapatnam: National Commission for Women has requested Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University (AU) PVGD Prasada Reddy to take action against the professor who allegedly sexually harassed a Ph.D. student from the Hindi department.

The student also alleged that the professor demanded Rs 4 lakh to sign her Ph.D. thesis.

On Tuesday, the varsity officials forwarded the complaint to the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and the Women’s Grievance Cell.

A few days ago, a part-time research scholar in the Hindi department sent an email to the chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW) alleging that her guide Prof. N Satyanarayana misbehaved with her and even demanded money. The professor also targeted other women scholars, the student alleged.

The woman joined the Ph.D. program in February 2019. Since then, she said, she has been giving him several gifts as per his demand. In her complaint, the woman stated that she put in a lot of hard work for research. However, after three years, the professor allegedly demanded Rs 4 lakh for signing her thesis.

"A few days before her pre-talk Viva last year, the professor called the woman and demanded Rs 2 lakh and threatened to ruin her career if she reported the matter to anyone", the Ph.D. student stated in her complaint.

According to the student, the professor initially asked for Rs 75,000 before the viva and the remaining amount later. In January 2023, the Ph.D. student gave Rs. 75,000 to the professor. Her husband and two friends served as witnesses as they were present in the car. Later professor threatened to defame her husband if she did not pay the remaining money to get her thesis signed.

Misbehaved with scholar

Following his threats, the scholar lodged a complaint against the professor.

In the complaint, she said that the professor used to touch her inappropriately. He also used to misbehave with other female scholars. She stated that he also asked her to meet him alone at various locations.

The student urged Andhra University to send her thesis to a panel other than the one suggested by Satyanarayana.

Prof Satyanarayana denied the allegations

Speaking to the media, Professor Satyanarayana stated that the Ph.D. student never visited the varsity to work on her thesis.

"I have been a guide to 25 Ph.D. scholars, and no one has complained. This particular student and her husband raised allegations against me because I refused to sign her thesis against the rules. I have informed the same to VC too. If sexual allegations were proven against me, I am ready to resign from my job," said the professor.

Satyanarayana stated that Andhra University is selling Ph.D. certificates for money. "Many of them are paying fees for Ph.D. and are putting pressure on us at the last moment. When we say we cannot go against the rule, they raise such allegations on us," he told the media.

Three months ago, the professor also lodged a complaint against the student's husband at III Town police station in Visakhapatnam that he had abused and attacked him to sign the thesis.

Commission sought report in 15 days

NCW has asked the VC that action should be taken by the Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013.

The commission requested a report on the action taken within 15 days.

Action based on Inquiry report

Speaking to the media, Varsity Registrar V. Krishna Mohan said that they have asked the ICC and Women’s Grievance Cell to conduct an inquiry and submit a report. "If the allegations are proved to be true, disciplinary action will be taken against the professor", said the Registrar.

Registrar further explained saying, in such cases of the Ph.D. student facing issues, it should initially reported to the principal of the concerned department.