Sexual harassment plaint: Calicut University submits preliminary report to UGC

In the wake of charges by girl students of harassment on the Calicut University campus, the university has submitted a preliminary report on the complaints to the University Grants Commission (UGC).

 On Friday, the students raised pitch of their opposition to what they called the authorities’ “inaction” by staging a protest in the campus.

Girl students of the university have already written to Governor P Sathasivam and Chief Justice (CJ) of the High Court of Kerala regarding “acts of harassment, verbal threats, physical violence, insulting use of obscene language and gestures, teasing in public places and on campus roads, objectionable bodily exposure and suggestive behaviour” on the campus.

Valsarajan P V, Dean of Students’ Welfare at the university, said the final report on the complaints will be submitted to the UGC in two weeks. “Through the preliminary investigation, we have confirmed that prima facie there are cases of harassment. The report is based on the complaints made by seven students and an inquiry conducted by officials of the departments concerned,” Valsarajan told Deccan Herald.

An official in the Thenhippalam police station told Deccan Herald that four cases have been registered in connection with complaints by the students.

In the letter addressed to the governor and the High Court CJ, signed by close to 450 students from the campus, the girls have stated that relentless harassment was hindering their studies and daily life.

“Due to these acts of harassment by both the students of certain departments/centres and by anti-social elements from outside the campus, we are constantly under threat and live on campus with terrible fear,” the students said in the letter.

The students said the authorities were not acting on the complaints and safety of women were not given due importance on the campus in which about 80 per cent of the students are women.

“In fact, we are afraid that the authorities themselves are colluding in protecting and sheltering the offenders,” they said.