A division bench of Justices M. Govindaraj and G. R. Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday refused to declare the Santhanam Commission probing the Madurai Kamaraj University audiotape scandal as null and void, while disposing of a public interest litigation petition..
Activist S. Selvagomathi, in her petition, wanted the court to declare the Santhanam Commission as null and void and direct the MKU to look into the case and discharge its functions under the University Grants Commission (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2015.
The petitioner sought the formation of a Local Complaints Committee under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 to question Devanga Arts College, Aruppukottai, where the alleged audiotape incident took place. The UGC should initiate action against MKU in accordance with law, she said.
