'Be my date': Kashmir varsity strips chemistry head of post after students protest harassment

Srinagar — The Central University of Kashmir has stripped an associate professor of his headship after students staged an angry protest over allegations that he sexually harassed a female student — commenting on her physical appearance, asking her to "be my date", and warning her of consequences if she lodged a complaint. The professor, Dr. Chinnappan Bhaskar, headed the Department of Chemistry at the university's Nunnar campus in Ganderbal district. Students boycotted classes and laboratory sessions on Thursday and marched through the campus demanding his removal, saying grievances against him had persisted for months — including claims of verbal abuse during classes and the harassment of a female student. The university administration acted within days. An order dated October 1, 2026, issued by the Deputy Registrar (Administration) from the Tulmulla campus, relieved Dr. Bhaskar of all departmental and official assignments with immediate effect and attached him to the office of the Dean, Academic Affairs, pending the completion of an inquiry into the complaint. Registrar Prof. Nisar Ahmad Mir told the Kashmir News Trust that the university took cognizance of the matter after students submitted a formal complaint following the protest. The Vice-Chancellor had directed that the head of department be attached if found at fault, he said, adding that further action would follow the inquiry's findings. Dr. Prashant Kumar Gupta, an assistant professor in the department, has been nominated coordinator until further orders. The university has constituted an internal inquiry committee into the allegations, which have not been independently verified and remain subject to the outcome of the probe. Officials said students could also approach the Internal Complaints Committee, and stressed that the attachment is administrative in nature. The episode is the latest in a string of campus protests across India over the safety of women students — and a reminder of how rarely institutions act without students forcing the issue first. This time, the students did not wait.