Cuttack, Feb. 1: Ravenshaw University's fact-finding committee, which had been asked to probe into the alleged sexual harassment within a week, failed to get even a single complainant to turn up before it.

The panel's deadline expired today.

Women faculty members alleged that though they had brought such allegations to the notice of the authorities concerned last year, no action was taken to resolve their grievances.

"Hence, it would be inappropriate on our part to appear before such internal fact-finding team as already the authorities have ignored our grievances in the past. How can we trust the committee as no varsity can be impartial towards such grievances," said a senior faculty member.

"Not a single faculty member appeared before us to submit their views or grievances. Hence, we submitted our report to the vice-chancellor today," said committee chairperson Smarapriya Mishra.

A senior official said the varsity had earlier served notices on all the three women faculty members to submit before the panel their grievances and evidences regarding their allegation of mental and sexual harassment within a week.

Vice-chancellor P.C. Sarangi said: "We have nothing to do now as none of the faculty members had appeared before the committee by the end of the stipulated time today."

The three-member panel had been formed on January 27 to conduct a detailed probe into the allegations levelled by three women faculty members of the varsity.

In August last, botany reader Sanhita Padhi had brought allegations of mental harassment and exploitation of a few girl students by some professors at the institution. This January, Hindi lecturer Anjum Ara, too, had reported various forms of harassments by her varsity colleagues.

Sources said the two faculty members through an e-mail sent to the varsity officials had expressed their disinclination to appear before the team.