EPS slams DMK regime over inaction on sexual harassment complaints by govt medical college students
The AIADMK chief also criticised the Chief Minister MK Stalin-led government over ‘inordinate delay’ in taking appropriate action on the issue to ensure the safety of the girl students and women faculty in the institution.
Edappadi K Palaniswami (File Image)
CHENNAI: Coming down heavily on the DMK regime over what he termed as a lack of action on sexual harassment complaints filed by students and staff at the Tamil Nadu Government Dental College in Chennai, Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami questioned the non-constitution of a Vishaka Committee in the educational institution.
The AIADMK chief also criticised the Chief Minister MK Stalin-led government over ‘inordinate delay’ in taking appropriate action on the issue to ensure the safety of the girl students and women faculty in the institution.
Palaniswami said that it came to light that a head of department at the government medical college had misbehaved with fellow teaching staff and passed distasteful comments, including body shaming, causing mental distress among students and colleagues. Although the affected students and staff lodged a complaint with the institution’s administration in March 2024, no action has been taken, Palaniswami said in a statement.
He claimed that the administration’s inaction on the complaint, coupled with continued harassment, led to the suicide of an assistant professor in January this year. It raises serious concerns, Palaniswami added, questioning what happened to the directive to constitute a Vishaka Committee in institutions to handle such issues.
