The internal complaints committee (ICC) of Jadavpur University has recommended that an undergraduate student who accused a professor in the arts faculty of sexually and mentally harassing her during semester exams “be restrained from attending classes” because the complaint was "frivolous".

The ICC said: “The complainant may be restrained from attending the classes for the rest of her course and allowed in the university premises for examinations only.”

The panel also recommended: “By posting a frivolous complaint in the media, the complainant has tarnished the reputation of the respondent (the teacher who was accused) and Jadavpur University. So the complainant must tender an unconditional written apology.”

It said: “This type of malicious complaint if repeated in future will be dealt with strictly.”

The committee's report and recommendation were tabled at JU’s executive council meeting on Friday.

The student had lodged the complaint with JU's registrar in February.

The student had alleged that on the first day of the semester exams on February 19, she was asked, following instructions from the teacher, to be “uncomfortably frisked” in front of the entire class on suspicion that she had chits.

The student also accused the professor of giving her “uncomfortable stares” and expressing doubt over whether a girl from the districts could secure a first rank in the university's admission test.

The committee in its findings said: “There are severe anomalies between the written complaint and the deposition of the complainant.”

“The complainant did not come to the university very often. The complainant even did not know the names of all persons associated with the department. As the complainant rarely comes to the department, the complaint of improper stare does not arise.”

The report said: “On February 19, there was no incident of frisking.”

The committee recommended: “In view of the above findings, the internal complaints committee concludes that the complaint lodged by the complainant is frivolous....”

The student said: “Students who witnessed what happened had not been asked to depose by the committee. I will move a higher forum soon for justice.”

According to rules, if the ICC concludes that the allegations “made were false, malicious or the complaint was made knowing it to be untrue, or forged or misleading information has been provided during the inquiry, the complainant shall be liable to be punished as per the provisions”.

The professor who had been accused said: “I am more concerned about those who instigated the student to lodge a malicious complaint. Since there was a malafide intention, the complaint went to the media, not to the ICC. I was trolled on social media for days. So, efforts should be initiated by the university to take steps against those who instigated her.”

Kaji Masum Akhter, a member of the university’s executive council, said: “It is unfortunate that a malicious complaint was filed to tarnish the image of a professor.”