Kalakshetra Foundation case: Professor accused of misconduct a ‘delinquent employee’, says Report
The Independent Enquiry Committee constituted by the Kalakshetra Foundation to probe into allegations of sexual misconduct on campus, has recommended “major punishment” for the main accused, senior faculty Hari Padman
Chennai: The Independent Enquiry Committee constituted by the Kalakshetra Foundation to probe into allegations of sexual misconduct on campus, has recommended “major punishment” for the main accused, senior faculty Hari Padman. They described him as a “delinquent employee”,
The committee comprising retired justice (of Punjab & Haryana HC) K Kannan as presiding officer, former Tamil Nadu director general of police, Letika Saran, and Dr Shobha Varthaman was constituted by the Chairman of Kalakshetra, S Ramadorai. The committee set up in April, was one of the demands of the students who wished for an independent probe.
–to add justice Kannan quote–
The three-member committee has submitted a report with annexure to the institution recommending that it be kept confidential for the reason that it “contains extremely sensitive information” which if revealed, would invade the privacy of the individuals namely students, alumni and staff.
However, the concluding part of the report will be disclosed soon as it will become necessary for “the delinquent employee” Hari Padman to show cause against the findings of the report and the “major punishment recommended by us”, the committee said in a statement on Monday.
“The concluding part also contains considerable recommendations for reforms in the administrative setup and (to) tune the activities of the institution that will assure safety to students, by focusing to promote Kalakshetra Foundation primarily as an institution of higher learning and not showcase it as an institution of public performers.”
Since early this year, the premium performing arts institution in Chennai has been in the spotlight after students went on protests alleging sexual harassment by four teachers.
Padman, an assistant professor, was the first to be accused for several months by students of the Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts (in the Kalakshetra campus).
The Chennai police arrested Padman, on a complaint filed by an alumna in April that he sexually harassed her when she was a student. He was booked under sections 354A (sexual harassment) 509 (use of acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code and section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Women Harassment Act, 2013.
The institute’s governing board suspended Padman and dismissed three other instructors Sanjith Lal, Sai Krishnan, and Sreenath.
Padman has been on bail since June. However, the arrest, the state government’s investigation, and the board’s decision came weeks after denial.
On March 19, Kalakshetra’s administration released a statement that said their ICC found no truth in the allegations.
The students began protesting on March 30 demanding that four teachers including Padman be suspended for alleged sexual harassment against female and male students. On March 25, Kalakshetra’s director Revathi Ramachandran met then DGP Sylendra Babu to share details of the ICC’s report and maintain that the allegations were rumours to spoil the image of the arts institution.
The protest was temporarily called off on March 31 following the intervention of the head of the Tamil Nadu state women commission chief AS Kumari. Kumari has submitted her report to the state government and in a sealed cover to the Madras high court.
The committee had spoken to scores of students, alumni in person and through online conversations.
