Valparai Govt College students file petition with TN Women's Commission, three staff members suspended

Three staff members of the Government Arts and Science College in Valparai were suspended on Monday following allegations of sexual harassment. A partner company also fired a course instructor in connection with the same case. The accused, who are visiting lecturers S. Sathishkumar and Muraliraj, computer science lab technician A. Anbarasu and course instructor N. Rajapandi, were arrested on Sunday, according to a report in The Hindu newspaper.

The investigating officer said that the staff members allegedly sent inappropriate messages, made unwanted physical advances and used sexually suggestive language towards the students. The complaint was filed after a group of female students anonymously reported the incidents to the Tamil Nadu State Women's Commission under the Department of Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, according to a report in the New Indian Express. The case was then forwarded to the Coimbatore District Social Welfare Officer for further investigation.

In response to the allegations, the college's in-charge principal suspended the accused guest lecturers and lab assistants, while the private training company fired the course instructor. The Directorate of Higher Education has directed the college to initiate women safety awareness programmes for students involving psychologists and legal experts to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In addition, an official from the Directorate of Higher Education announced plans to introduce a comprehensive safety awareness programme for women in all government colleges. The aim of this initiative is to educate teaching staff about their role and responsibility in ensuring a safe environment for students.

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