2 teachers awarded RI for sexual harassment

Pronouncing the verdict, Justice P Velmurugan convicted Nagarajan, the first accused in the case, for eight years’ rigorous imprisonment under Sections 8 and 12 of Pocso Act and also slapped a fine of Rs 5,000. The second accused Pugalenthi was sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment under section 12 of the Act, and pay a fine of Rs 1,000. Nagaraj taught chemistry and Pugazhendi was the physics teacher.

The police had registered a case against the two teachers based on a complaint from eight girls who alleged inappropriate behaviour and sexual harassment by the two teachers from 2011 to 2013. However, four girls turned hostile while deposing before the trial judge. Apart from charges of sexual abuse, they were also booked for criminal intimidation for allegedly threatening the students saying that their marks in practical examinations would be reduced if they dared lodge a complaint.

However, in April 2018, the Chengalpattu Mahila Court acquitted the teachers after accepting the arguments by their counsel that the charges were framed by another teacher working in the same school at the insistence of a former headmaster, and that the students had been forced to lodge the complaints against the two.

Finding several holes in the prosecution’s case, the Sessions Judge had observed that if the teachers had actually indulged in abuse, the students would have complained then and there, and would not have waited for two years. The School Education department had initially suspended both teachers, but had reinstating them eventually. However, one of the victims appealed against the lower court’s order. Justice Velmurugan quashed the acquittal after observing that the trial court had erred in acquitting the accused and sentenced them.