Sexual Harassment: Valparai Govt College Students Petition TN Women's Commission, 3 Staffers Suspended

The complaint was initiated against the staffer after a group of female students anonymously petitioned Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women under the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department.

Three staff members of the Government Arts and Science College in Valparai were suspended on Monday following allegations of sexual harassment. A training partner firm also terminated a skill course trainer in connection with the same case. The accused, identified as guest lecturers S Sathishkumar and Muraliraj, computer science lab assistant A Anbarasu, and skill course trainer N Rajapandi, were arrested on Sunday, as per a report on The Hindu.

The investigating officer stated that the staff members had allegedly sent inappropriate messages, made unwanted physical advances, and used sexually suggestive language toward the students. The complaint was initiated after a group of female students anonymously petitioned the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women under the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department, citing these incidents, according to a report on The New Indian Express. The case was then forwarded to the Coimbatore district social welfare officer for further investigation.

In response to the allegations, the college principal (in charge) suspended the accused guest lecturers and lab assistant, while the private training partner firm dismissed the skill course trainer. The Directorate of Collegiate Education has directed the college to initiate awareness programs on women's safety for students, involving psychologists and legal experts, to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Additionally, an official from the Directorate of Collegiate Education announced plans to implement a comprehensive women's safety awareness program across all government colleges. This initiative aims to educate teaching staff about their roles and responsibilities in ensuring a safe environment for students.