The Women’s Development Cell (WDC) conducted a seminar on “Women, Development and World Peace”, which was attended by about 270 conveners from all affiliated colleges of the university. At the valedictory function of the seminar, pro-Vice Chancellor NK Patel made some offensive remarks about women.

The conveners immediately protested against his uncalled for remarks and forced him to tender apologies. Patel reportedly said, “Women are women’s worst enemies’ and ‘when four women get together, they are bound to split a family’.”

When contacted, the founder-chairman of the WDC, Ranjana Harish, said, “Since the pro-VC had offered his unqualified apologies to the audience for his comments, the issue was resolved. However, men’s depreciatory comments on women are a matter of great concern.”

Since its inception two years ago, the WDC has received numerous oral and written complaints against ranging from peons, clerk, lecturers, professors to department directors, and even a college principal.

The WDC, which was constituted following the Supreme Court’s directive, has a branch in all affiliated colleges. So far the cell has resolved 12 serious complaints of harassment on campus. Many male professors in the university used to call women as ghaghri, said some girl students.