New Delhi, October 7
A former lab assistant of Delhi University's Ambedkar College, Pavitra Bhardwaj (36) who had tried to immolate herself a week ago in front of Delhi Secretariat succumbed to her burns at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital this morning.

The matter has once again left a question mark on the functioning of the sexual harassment committee at the college level and that of the DU's apex body which she had approached in course of three years since 2009 when she was allegedly asked for sexual favours by the college principal GK Arora.

The DUKU and DUTA hold the Vice-Chancellor squarely responsible for the 'lapse', saying this stands in clear violation of the Ordinance XV-D which requires that the principal should have been put under suspension to enable a fair enquiry.

While the National Commission for Women (NCW) today constituted a committee for probe, the Delhi Police is yet to make any arrest even as Pavitra in her testimony, now the dying declaration, on October 1 before the SDM, Kamla Market, had indicted the college principal and Ravinder Singh, senior upper divisional clerk for causing her physical and mental torture that compelled her to take the extreme step on September 30. Earlier, she had left a suicide note at the site of the incident.

"Even as she has recorded her statement, no case has been registered against the accused and he is moving scot free. The principal should be removed from his post and only then can an enquiry be carried as no one would otherwise come forward as witness," said Dharmendra, husband of the deceased. 

New Delhi, October 7
Trying to secure an easy entry for their family members, several Congress leaders are trying to project their sons as candidates in the assembly elections to be held on December 4.

However, the party senior leaders said no preference would be given to such contenders and the selection would be done on the basis of the work done by an aspirant. “We cannot stop anyone from filing nominations. But only the Election Committee will decide whether the contender is suitable or not,” said JP Aggarwal, president, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC).

Vinay Mishra, son of Member of Parliament (MP) Mahabal Mishra, has filed nomination from Dwarka. Parvez Hashmi, Rajya Sabha MP, has sought ticket for his son Farhan Hashmi from Okhla. Sajjan Kumar, former MP, has pitched his son Jag Pravesh Kumar from Sangam Vihar. Mukesh Sharma, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), is trying to field his son Ankit Sharma from Vikaspuri.

MLA Prem Singh has projected his son Pramod Singh from Ambedkar Nagar and Legislator Mangat Ram has proposed his son Ajay Singhal as candidate from Shalimar Bagh.

While some leaders are taking a strong stand on getting tickets for their sons, Mukesh Sharma said the selection should be done on merit only.

“A person should be considered only if he is capable of winning and not because he is son of some Congress leader. He should be a party worker,” said Sharma.

“The decision is to be taken by the Election Committee and final selection will be done only after analyzing his work record,” said Rajender Malik, DPCC general secretary.