Sexual harassment during college fest: DCW seeks report from police, DU by April 18

Following reports of alleged sexual harassment of girls during the college fest, Delhi Commission for Women Chairperson Swati Maliwal on Tuesday asked the police, Delhi University and the colleges concerned to submit an action taken report. Till 18 April. In the latest incident on March 28, some outsiders entered the Indraprastha Women’s College during a celebration and allegedly harassed the girls. It was also alleged that the boys tried to barge into the hostels of girls studying in the college.

The DCW issued recommendations to the Delhi Police, Delhi University and the college regarding the sexual harassment of girls at the college’s annual festival, who allegedly scaled the college’s boundary wall. “The Delhi Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognizance of the recent case of sexual harassment of several girls at College Fest at IP College, University of Delhi. It was reported that on 28.03.2023 men barged into IP College during the Fest and molested of. Many girls. They also reportedly raised slogans, “Miranda ip do hamara. If Miranda does not leave, IP will not leave,” read a notice by the women’s panel.

“Further, the Commission observed that after the IP College incident, several girl students protested for several days against the alleged apathy of the IP College authorities and failure of the system to protect them.” Earlier, on April 3, Maliwal had summoned Delhi Police and Delhi University officials to appear before the commission. According to the official notice, the police, DU and college authorities will have to appear before the panel with a list of guidelines and the mechanisms they have put in place to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
“Now therefore you are called upon to appear before the Commission on 06/0412023 at 02.00 PM for this purpose. If you fail to comply with this order without valid excuse, you will be liable for the consequences of non-appearance. shall be subjected as provided in the law,” read the official notice from DCW. “In 2020, some men barged into the Gargi College campus during a festival and molested girl students. Then, in 2022, some male students barged into Miranda College and harassed girl students. Delhi University raises serious concerns regarding the safety of girl students there, especially during a college festival,” read the notice.
On March 29, the DCW chief took suo motu cognizance of reports of sexual harassment of students during the annual festival and issued notices to the Delhi Police and the principal of Indraprastha College. The commission sought a copy of the FIR lodged in the matter along with the details of the arrested accused. The commission has also sought details of the security arrangements made by the Delhi Police and the college administration during the fest.