Enquiry committee clears COVA ED of misconduct

Chandrayangutta: The Executive Committee of COVA (Confederation of Voluntary Associations) which constituted an 'External Inquiry Committee' to inquire into allegation of 'sexual harassment' by female rights activist and writer against Mazher Hussain, the Executive Director of COVA, gave him a clean-chit.

According to Varghese Theckaneth, the Secretary of COVA, responding to the allegations of sexual harassment made by Mari Marcel Thekaekara based in Tamil Nadu against Mazher Hussain, which was published in newspapers, a 3-member external inquiry committee comprising Prof Vasanthi Nimushakavi (Chairperson), Professor, NALSAR University of Law, advocate Shireen Sethna Baria, and Dr Md Khaza, a journalist, was constituted.

The committee conducted sittings, called for explanations and evidences from both the parties and examined the versions, evidences and witnesses of both the parties. By a majority decision, it rejected the allegations of Mari Marcel Thekaekara as unsubstantiated and recommended closure of the case. "The executive committee of COVA at its special meeting held on March 19 studied the report of the external inquiry committee and accepted the same," he explained.

The executive committee decided to ask Mazher Hussian to join duty with immediate effect. It may be mentioned here that in the month of October when the #MeToo movement was at its peak in India, Mazher Hussain was accused of sexual harassment, when both the activists were on a flight in 2001.