Cuttack, Aug. 4: Ravenshaw University has taken disciplinary action against the teacher who was suspended five days ago after a female student levelled sexual harassment charges against him.

Vice-chancellor Prakash Chandra Sarangi told The Telegraph today that disciplinary proceedings had started against assistant professor of the chemistry Alekh Kumar Sutar on the basis of the report submitted by the university's Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment.

"The committee had found a prima facie case to some extent against the assistant professor, but recommended further inquiry into certain aspects," Sarangi said.

The issue came to light after a female fresher (a first-year undergraduate chemistry student) submitted a written complaint against the assistant professor to the vice-chancellor on July 29.

The university had suspended Sutar on the same day and asked the sexual harassment panel to probe into the matter.

She had alleged that the assistant professor had made physical contact and advances on her that tantamount to sexual harassment.

The sexual harassment committee, headed by the dean of school of physical sciences and associate professor of chemistry Smruti Prava Das, grilled both the accused and the victim and submitted its report yesterday.

The vice-chancellor said: "As the sexual harassment committee recommended further inquiry we decided to continue with the suspension order of the assistant professor and start disciplinary proceeding as per the university statute."

"Accordingly, a charge-sheet will be served on the accused assistant professor and he will be given a chance to give a reply. Subsequently, a committee will be appointed to inquire into the case," Sarangi said. Though the details of the report submitted by the sexual harassment committee were not available, the vice-chancellor said the report indicated some involvement of the assistant professor in sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment according to Ravenshaw University's policy and rules and procedures include any unwelcome sexually determined behaviour, whether directly or by implication, and includes physical contact and advances, a demand or request for sexual favours, sexually coloured remarks, showing pornography, and other unwelcome, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature.