Madras High Court says Internal Complaints Committee of Kalakshetra Foundation must be reconstituted to protect students

The Madras High Court Monday said it will reconstitute the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of the Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai, to probe the allegations of sexual harassment on campus made by its students. .Justice M Dhandapani said he already has in mind the name of a suitable person to be part of the Kalaksherta ICC but nevertheless asked the parties also to suggest names. Such reconstitution was imperative to protect the interests of the students as well as the Foundation, the single-judge made it clear.Pertinently, the Court also granted the interim prayer of the seven petitioner students of Kalakshetra to remain anonymous. The students approached the High Court seeking a safe learning environment on campus amidst complaints of sexual harassment on campus. The students revealed their identities to the Court in a sealed cover and requested that it be kept anonymous to the outside world to avoid "undue interference in the evaluation of their academic performance and the discriminatory or hostile treatment that they might face from the institution for filing the case." Senior Counsel and Additional Solicitor General AL Sunderesan, who appeared for the Foundation, objected to the petitioners' interim prayer for anonymity. He argued that the Foundation will need the names to ascertain whether appropriate action has been taken on their complaint. The Court, however, said the Foundation should merely be concerned with the nature of the complaints and not the complainants. "What is your apprehension here? I have strong objection to this. Why do you need to know their names? Even I have not opened the sealed cover. I don't intend to know their names even though, they have no objection to the Court opening the sealed cover. I am going to allow thus interim prayer," Justice Dhandapani said. The Court also restrained the Foundation from taking any adverse action against any student for making a complaint, organising peaceful protests, dharna etc..It also called for the inquiry report of the TN State Women's commission on the issue after Advocate General R Shunmugasundaram said he had no objection to the same. The Court will decide on the reconstitution of the ICC on April 24.Senior Counsel R Vaigai and Advocates Anna Mathew and S Devika appeared for the petiitoner students. Senior Counsel ARL Sundaresan appeared for the respondent Kalakshetra Foundation. TN Advocate General R Shunmugasundaram appeared for the State government.