Without victims’ complaints, ICC can’t probe: HC
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court observed that the internal complaints committee (ICC) cannot probe the sexual harassment allegation without receiving any complaint from the alleged victim, in the case filed against suspended assistant professor Nirmala Devi of Madurai Kamaraj University.
The first division bench comprising Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice J Sathya Narayana Prasad heard the petition seeking to transfer the investigation against Nirmala from CB-CID to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a woman DIG.
The State submitted that a charge sheet was filed against Nirmala Devi before the Srivilliputhur court and after the hearing, the court had reserved the final order. It was also submitted that the final order would be pronounced on April 26.
Further, the State also submitted that disciplinary actions had been initiated against Nirmala Devi, and an internal complaint committee was also constituted to probe the matter. The petitioner sought the bench to direct the internal complaint committee to probe into the sexual allegation.
However, the bench observed that without receiving any complaint from the victims, the committee cannot proceed with the probe. The bench also directed the petitioner to submit that all and any complaints filed by the victims before the committee and posted the matter to April 18 for further submission.
In 2018, Aruppukottai police booked Nirmala Devi under various sections based on the complaint lodged by girl students for allegedly persuading them to offer sexual favours to top officials of Madurai Kamaraj University.
Later, the then Governor of the State and Chancellor of the University, Banwarilal Purohit appointed retired IAS officer R Santhanam to probe into the matter.
Subsequently, D Ganesan, State coordinator of Revolutionary Students Youth Front, Tamil Nadu moved a petition before the High Court seeking to transfer the investigation against Nirmala Devi from CB-CID to the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The bench directed the petitioner to submit all and any complaint filed by the victims before the committee and posted the matter to April 18 for further submission