IIM Bangalore suspends chief administrative officer for sexual harassment

Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIMB) has suspended the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the Institute, C V Indushekar Vassist, for alleged sexual harassment, IIMB sources said today.

The suspension came to light when the IIMB Director Pankaj Chandra sent an internal mail to the faculty which said "the Gender Sensitivity Committee (GSC) of the Institute inquired into the complaint against C V Indushekar Vassist, our CAO, and submitted its report."

"Based on the findings of the committee, a show cause notice has been issued to him. Pending submission of reply to the notice, he will be kept under suspension with effect from November 29, 2012".

The CAO allegedly made sexual overtures to the Medical Officer since 2009 and initially she ignored it. However, she complained to the Chairperson of the GSC in November 2010 when he continued the harassment.

She also lodged a complaint to the Director and Dean of the institute a month later, IIMB sources said.

The institute terminated her services in January this year even before an inquiry by the GSC began, charging that she was "not performing satisfactorily."

Members belonging to Vimochana, a women's rights organisation, had staged a protest on November 29 and also met the IIMB Director and asked him to take a decision on the matter at the earliest.

The Medical Officer alleged that the decision to suspend the CAO "was taken under pressure after the recommendations from the GSC".

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