CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Kalakshetra Foundation to frame a policy to protect the students from sexual harassment and constitute an internal complaints committee (ICC) including parents and teachers.
“The respondent is directed to frame a policy (to prevent sexual harassment) and constitute the complaints committee by keeping in mind the prevention of sexual harassment act, enactments and guidelines including UGC, various other guidelines of the Centre, the State, the national commission for protection of child rights and the CBSE,” Justice M Dhandapani said in the inerim order.
The order was passed on the petitions filed by seven students of the institutions run by the foundation.
He directed the foundation to include representatives of parents and teachers in ICC to be formed pursuant to framing of the policy. On the matter of the Justice Kannan committee unilaterally set up by the foundation to look into the matter, the judge said the issue would be dealt with comprehensively after court vacation.
Making it clear that mere pendency of the writ petition would not tie the hands of the state police, the judge said they can go ahead with further proceedings as per law. Justice Dhandapani also directed the management of the foundation not to take any adverse action to victimise the teachers who had supported the cause of the students. The petitions have been posted to June 15 for further hearing.