PUNE, December 24: A Balasubramanian, the suspended director of Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS) for defence personnel, resigned from the post `in the interests of SIMS' while refusing to depose before the inquiry committee set up by Symbiosis Society to probe charges of sexual harassment levelled against him.

The committee, which submitted its report on December 18, found it infructous to continue with the inquiry and recommended its own dissolution.

Balasubramanian was arrested after a complaint of alleged sexual harassment was levelled against him by a SIMS student. While he was later released on bail, the Symbiosis Society instituted an inquiry to probe the incident. However the committee has recommended the laying down of a model code of conduct for students, particularly those staying in the hostel, teaching faculty and employees of SIMS.

When contacted, SB Mujumdar, founder director of Symbiosis, said that Balasubramanian had resigned in the interest of SIMS and had decided to prove his innocence in the court of law. The committee also surmised that since the case had already been registered with the police, no purpose would be served by looking into the matter in its entirety as the committee lacked the investigative mechanism, skill and authority to inquire into the `crime.' While Symbiosis gave a chargesheet to Balasubramanian on December 3, the latter in his reply on December 9 denied the charges.

Moreover, Symbiosis' managing committee agreed to accept Balasubramanian's resignation on December 16. Considering the development, the committee concluded that since Symbiosis society had decided to terminate the service of Balasubramanian, no useful purpose would be served in pursuing the inquiry.

The committee has also recommended the institution of a complaint mechanism/ committee in terms of the Supreme Court judgement on harassment of women at work places. Mujumdar said that Symbiosis' management committee would take up the issue of setting up such a panel at its meeting scheduled on January 6.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.