Expressing alarm over the growing incidents of teachers sexually harassing students in schools and olleges, members of the Upper House on Tuesday sought amendments to the existing laws saying they were inadequate in handing out punishment to the guilty teachers.
Bharathi Shetty drew attention to the irony of sexual harassment cases with the victims suffering in silence while the accused moved around freely and were rarely punished. “For example, the recent case of the Trio World School principal sexually harassing a 12-year-old boy, the New Cambridge College principal in Kushalnagar sexually assaulting and later forcing his student to undergo abortions, the molestation and attempt to rape case filed by a Karwar school girl against her teacher, have all met with the same fate with the accused going scot-free,” said Ms Shetty.
“The guilty are shielded by the institutions citing limitations in the law. The case of Sarita, a research scholar in Mysore University is enough proof that the existing laws cannot deliver justice. The guilty professor was transferred to another college and his increments were cut. Is this punishment enough?” wondered Ms Shetty.
Mohan Limbikayi expressed anguish over the accused going scot-free for want of evidence and reminded the House that the Apex Court had ruled that in cases of sexual harassment, the victim’s deposition before the court was enough evidence to hold the accused guilty. “The Karnataka Universities Act only gives powers to the academic council or Syndicate to punish the guilty with a lower pay scale and not terminate his services,” argued Limbikayi.
