The Wire’s external committee probing sexual harassment allegations against #VinodDua dissolves itself

The five-member external committee set up to probe allegations of sexual harassment made against consulting editor Vinod Dua has dissolved itself.

In its December 30 report, the committee stated that it is unable to proceed any further with its work because it doesn’t have unconditional consent of both sides. According to the committee, Dua had submitted a written statement. He had requested that his statement “be taken as his full and final reply and that he would neither be cross-examined nor cross-examine anyone”.

The committee further noted: “The process which has already taken longer than it should have continues to be fraught with objections from the parties at each stage, with the end nowhere in sight. The consent by one of the parties to be subject to the Committee’s enquiry has been given on certain conditions of which at least one is not acceptable to the Committee. And the concerned party is not willing to withdraw this condition. The upshot is that the Committee does not have the unconditional consent of both sides, which alone can be the source of its authority to proceed further in the matter.”

The committee also stated “that no useful purpose would be served by prolonging the process and that it is unable to proceed further in this matter.” Accordingly, the committee was dissolved.

On October 14, in a Facebook post, filmmaker Nishtha Jain had named Dua. Describing an incident that took place in June 1989, Jain wrote: “I was greeted with his typical sardonic smile. Before I could settle down he began telling a lewd sexual joke in that soft voice, barely opening his mouth. I don’t remember the joke but it wasn’t worth a laugh, just dirty.” Jain had gone for a job interview for a new gig that Dua was starting.