The Dr K.N. Modi Foundation has come under the scanner of the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the National Commission for Women (NCW) for an alleged case of sexual harassment against one of its senior staff members.
The NCW notice, a copy of which is with The Sunday Guardian, is addressed to the “director” of Dr K.N. Modi Foundation, CMD Campus, Delhi-Meerut Road, Modinagar, and was first issued on 29 January 2018.
The order said, “The commission has passed the order to appear in person before the commission on 6 February 2018 for a hearing. Take further notice that in default, the commission may proceed to take such action, as it deems proper.”
According to sources, the NCW issued two more notices upon failure to take cognizance of the summons. The second notice was issued on 7 February 2018 and the third notice was issued on 12 February 2018.
The NCW in its notice stated, “If you fail to comply with this order without lawful excuse, you will be subject to the consequences of non-attendance laid down in the Code of Civil Procedure.”
However, the NCW notices do not mention the reason why the “director” of the Dr K.N. Modi Foundation was sent these notices. The commission has issued the notice stating its powers under the provision of the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
According to a source, “The notice was issued after some complaints were received by the commission and the ministry from women in the educational institute. So far, only a junior officer of the institute has attended the hearings. No senior member of the board showed up.”
While ambiguity remained on the nature of the complaints, sources said that the complainant alleged she was molested by a senior member of the foundation. The Dr K.N. Modi Foundation has several departments and every department has a director who ultimately works under the chairman.
According to the foundation’s website, the foundation constitutes of a business school, a B.Ed college, three engineering colleges, a university and four schools up to Class 12.
The Sunday Guardian tried contacting the Dr K.N. Modi Foundation, but was told that before Monday, no member of the foundation can be reached for comments.