India, March 26 -- The Bombay High Court on Tuesday upheld the compulsory retirement of an Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay professor found guilty of sexually harassing a student, ruling that no separate departmental inquiry was required under the law.

A division bench of Justices Riyaz I Chagla and Advait Sethna dismissed a petition filed by the professor, Arun A Iyer, challenging the disciplinary action taken by the institute.

The court held that the findings of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act were sufficient to impose a major penalty, and that insisting on a fresh inquiry would defeat the purpose of the statute.

The complaint against the 47-year-old professor was fi...