JNU prof removed from SC panel

New Delhi: The Centre has removed a JNU professor, who was accused of sexual harassment, from the Supreme Court-empowered Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), which is tasked with taking various measures to tackle air pollution.

The environment ministry, in an order issued on July 4, announced the removal of Atul Kumar Johri, a professor at the School of Life Sciences at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

Prof Johri was arrested in March for allegedly sexually harassing several female students. He is currently out on bail. The Delhi high court had recently given JNU’s internal complaints committee two more weeks to complete its investigation into the alleged misconduct of Johri.

Students, professors, and women’s rights organisations had demanded the professor’s arrest following allegations of sexual harassment against him by some students.

Confirming the development, a Union environment ministry official said that Prof Johri was removed as there were allegations of misconduct against him.