IIM Calcutta removes acting director over sexual harassment complaint
Sahadeb Sarkar's removal as director makes him the third IIM director in three years to leave his post before the expiry of tenure.
2 min read
The institute, in a statement issued late on Tuesday evening, said it took an action against Sarkar based on the recommendation of the internal complaints committee (ICC) and the allegations are being probed. (File)The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM-C) has removed its director-in-charge Sahadeb Sarkar following a sexual harassment complaint against him, the institute has said.
The institute, in a statement issued late on Tuesday evening, said it took action against Sarkar based on the recommendation of the internal complaints committee (ICC) and the allegations are being probed.
The IIM-C, meanwhile, appointed the next senior-most faculty member, professor Saibal Chattopadhyay, as the director-in-charge with immediate effect.
“The Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of the institute has been in receipt of a written complaint under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) against the then Director-in-Charge professor Sahadeb Sarkar. The ICC has ascertained that prima facie the complaint warrants a formal inquiry and communicated the same to the Board of Governors (BoG),” the institute stated.
The step was taken to ensure “impartiality” so that the inquiry is duly compliant with principles of natural justice.
“IIM-C Board of Governors held a special meeting on 6 January 2024 and accepted the recommendation of the ICC that professor Sahadeb Sarkar shall not continue in the office of Director-in-Charge and shall be removed from the said post and any other position wherein he has administrative charges in IIM Calcutta, during the pendency of formal inquiry before the ICC and any proceedings arising therefrom or incidental thereto,” it said.
Sarkar’s removal makes him the third IIM director in three years to leave his position before the expiry of tenure.
Earlier, Uttam Kumar Sarkar resigned as director in August 2023 after serving only two years of his five-year term. In March 2021, then director Anju Seth had resigned in the fourth year of her term.
You May Like
