The Madras High Court called for the report of Tamil Nadu Women's Commission in connection with the sexual harassment of students at Rukmini Devi College of fine arts managed by Kalakshetra Foundation on Monday.
The order came in the petition filed by seven students of the institution seeking a safe learning environment and to remain anonymous fearing backlash in the case.
On Monday, the case came up for hearing before Justice M Dhandapani who said that a decision on reconstituting the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) could be taken on April 24. He also said that he will name a suitable person for the committee.
The judge said that he had a retired justice in mind to head the ICCA. He said that it would be in the interest of both the students as well as a reputed institution like the Kalakshetra Foundation to agree for an independent ICC to enquire into the serious allegations leveled by the students against the teachers and faculty at the institute.
Meanwhile, Justice Dhandapani sought TN Women's Panel report after TN Advocate General R Shanmugasundaram informed the court that he had no objection to submitting it in court.
Judge Dhandapani also recorded the statement of Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan that the college management shall not subject any of the complaints, their representatives, students or faculty members who raised the sexual harassment issue to adverse action, intimidation, or harassment.
Justice Dhandapani asked the management of the institution to restrain the teacher who was arrested and jailed following a criminal complaint of sexual harassment from entering the campus and from contacting any student to avoid undue influence.
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Meanwhile, it can be recalled that some of the students of Kalakshetra came out against Professor Hari Padman and others for allegedly sexually harassing them on campus.
(With IANS inputs)