The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has called for a hearing on October 22 over a complaint submitted by athlete and coach Santhi Soundarajan, who has alleged caste- and gender-related harassment by a colleague in the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu.
Ms. Soundarajan and the respondents have been directed to appear for the hearing, which will be held at the State Guest House in Chepauk here.
“It is a sensitive case and we will enquire thoroughly,” NCSC vice-chairman L. Murugan said.
During an interaction with reporters here, Mr. Murugan said that the commission had asked the State authorities to send a circular to all government schools to ensure that cooks employed in them were not harassed on any ground. The commission’s directive comes in the wake reports that a Dalit cook was harassed in Salem district.
Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
A case had been registered under various sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, he said.
Though disciplinary action had been initiated against the headmaster, the commission had been insisting on his arrest.
The commission has also been urging the State to identify all panchami lands under encroachment and reclaim them.
