Kalakshetra row: HC seeks women commission’s report

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court sought the report of the inquiry by State women’s commission into the allegations that the students were sexually harassed by staff members.

Noting that the students were not satisfied with the Kalakshetra Foundation’s response to their complaints, the court directed it to explain why it should not appoint an inquiry committee to save the institution’s reputation.

It added that a decision on reconstituting the internal complaints committee with representatives from students and parents would be taken on April 24, the next date of hearing.

The court was hearing a joint writ petition filed by seven students of Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts run by the Kalakshetra Foundation seeking the formulation of a proper safety policy and a robust redressal mechanism to deal with sexual and other kinds of harassment at the institution.

Citing the recent protests over present and past students having been subjected to sexual harassment by a few faculty members, the petitioners also sought multiple interim reliefs, including barring the perpetrators of sexual harassment from entering the campus and talking to female students and directing the Tamil Nadu Commission for Women to submit its inquiry report.

“The Kalakshetra Foundation has failed to provide a safe environment for the female students and has failed to comply with the provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act of 2012, Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013 and Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act, 1998,” they said.

They also insisted that neither Kalakshetra director Revathi Ramachandran nor the previous members of the ICC should be part of the new committee and sought a direction to suspend the faculty members facing charges of sexual harassment.

When the petition came up for hearing before Justice M Dhandapani, senior counsel Vaigai representing the students accused the foundation of not having shown enough seriousness in dealing with the students’ complaints.

But Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan, who appeared for Kalakshetra, said all legal steps were being taken. He also noted that the perpetrators have been suspended and some have been dismissed, and assured that they would not be allowed to interfere in the administration or enter the campus.

Advocate General R Shunmugasundaram submitted that the investigation report of the women’s commission has been submitted to the government, a criminal case has been registered and the investigation was under way.

The case was adjourned to April 24 for next hearing.