VADODARA, April 13: Even as 24 hours have passed the Baroda University Teachers Association (BUTA) has not suggested a name to the Vice-Chancellor of M S University Anil Kane, for the third person of the enquiry committee which is to look into the alleged sexual harassment of a research student.BUTA president A Pepalla said, `We will not suggest any names and will also not object to whoever the V-C appoints as far as justice was given to both sides.''
Meanwhile addressing media persons on Tuesday, convenor of University Women Forum, Dipta Achchar said, ``Our demand is that there should be a non-government organisation representative having experience in women's issues on the committee''.
She added that only a person who had worked with such organisations could think of tackling the issue properly. The other demands of the organisations are that the basic issues should not be allowed to be manipulated by local power lobbies.
Another member Nandini Manjrekar said, ``The whole issue has now been diverted and the focus has shifted from the victim to everything else.'' She added that they have also appealed to the university that the administration should see to it that her guide was changed and she could complete her research.
Manjrekar said that the forum also appealed that the committee should be set up as per the Supreme Court guidelines. They added that the committee should ensure that they adhere to the definition of sexual harassment provided by the apex court.
The forum has also demanded that the university should admit a member of the forum as an observer at the inquiry committee proceedings to ensure transparency.
When contacted in-charge registrar N M Pandya said, ``We will meet on Thursday to decide on the name as Wednesday the university would remain closed''.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.