A day after several students and students groups in Jawaharlal Nehru University and the National Commission for Women chairperson, Rekha Sharma called the JNU circular on sexual harassment as “misogynist,” the university has taken away the sentence, which said, “girls are supposed to draw a tangible line between them and their male friends” to prevent sexual harassment.

Women’s Commission chairperson asked why only girls are being taught and pointed out that it is time to teach harassers not the victims. The internal committee should have a victim-centred approach and not otherwise, she said.

Following the chairperson’s tweet, JNU Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) Presiding Officer Prof. Punam Kumari tweeted that “the sentence” has been withdrawn.

After receiving sexual harassment cases from students, ICC has issued a circular saying that it will organise monthly counselling sessions on sexual harassment.  However, the circular also read, “ICC come across a number of cases where sexual harassment takes place among close friends. Boys generally cross (sometimes advertently, sometimes inadvertently) the thin line between friendship’s bantering and sexual harassment. Girls are supposed to know how to draw a tangible line (between them and their male friends) to avoid any such harassment.”

Before the withdrawal of the controversial circular, Prof. Punam Kumari of ICC has defended the circular. “Boys especially, if found guilty, can ask in counselling about harassment repercussions. As far as girls are concerned, then it is very important for a girl to raise alarm immediately when a boy touch them inappropriately. Until the girl doesn’t express that she is feeling uncomfortable, how will a message be sent to the boys?” she said to ANI.

Meanwhile, the JNUSU statement read: “In a shocking manner, when the ICC handed over the recommendations after three months of the enquiry, the ICC has resorted to shifting the onus onto the complainant by suggesting that she undertake sessions on gender sensitisation instead of punishing the accused.”

“The ICC time and again in JNU has passed such regressive remarks or conducted itself in a way to moral police the survivor,” alleged Aishe Gosh, JNUSU president.

Many students and several student groups have expressed their anger at the ‘misogynist’ circular.