Central University of Kerala Suspends Poetry Teacher Amidst Sexual Harassment Allegations from PG Students.

Central University of Kerala took decisive action on Tuesday, suspending Assistant Professor Efthikar Ahamed B after first-semester PG students of the Department of English and Comparative Literature accused him of sexual harassment. In an official statement, Vice Chancellor in-charge Prof Baiju K C stated, “A disciplinary proceeding against Dr Efthikar Ahamed is being contemplated based on the allegations raised by the students,” leading to his immediate suspension.

The students reported that Dr. Efthikar Ahamed engaged in inappropriate discussions about sex, sexual pleasure, and other forms of pleasure under the guise of interpreting poetry and literature from the beginning of their classes on September 7. The situation escalated when a student allegedly fainted during an internal examination on November 13, accusing the professor of molestation. Prompted by these incidents, the students approached the university’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC).

On November 14, a comprehensive seven-page complaint listing 31 instances of alleged misconduct was submitted to Prof Germina K A, presiding officer of the ICC, and Asha S, Head of the Department of English and Comparative Literature. Despite a directive from Prof Baiju on November 16 for Dr. Efthikar Ahamed to distance himself from students, he continued to linger in the department and discomforted students by posting messages in WhatsApp groups.

Student organizations on campus collectively called for his expulsion, with one urging the complaint to be forwarded to the police for a criminal investigation. On November 25, Onmanorama released a detailed report, including the complaint, testimonies from former students, and statements from a medical officer who claimed to have witnessed inappropriate touching in the health center.

Vice Chancellor in-charge Prof Baiju confirmed that Dr. Efthikar Ahamed’s suspension was based on the interim report submitted by the ICC. However, he declined to comment on whether the report found the professor prima facie guilty as charged. The university’s decisive action underscores its commitment to addressing serious allegations of misconduct.