Madras HC permits Prof to take legal action against colleagues in Sexual Harassment Case

Madras HC on Thursday gave permission to a Loyola college professor to take action against her colleagues whom she has accused of sexual harassment. The court asserted that it is her right to seek legal action against the accused.

Chennai:The Madras High Court on Thursday granted permission to a former Loyola College professor, Professor Josephine Jeyashanthi (51) to take action against her former head of the department, Professor Raja Rajan and another colleague, Professor Prince whom she had accused of sexually harassing her.

An ex-assistant professor of the Tamil Department, Jeyashanthi had filed a sexual harassment case against the HOD on December 12, 2012.

Based on the complaint, the college administration constituted an 'Internal committee against Sexual Harassment' to probe into the allegations.

On April 13, 2012, the committee submitted a report declaring the accused were guilty. However, Jeyashanthi alleged that she didn't receive a copy of the report.

In March 2014, the college authorities terminated Jeyashanthi's job without mentioning any reason. Following this, Jeyashanthi's approached the Madras High Court wherein she alleged that the college authorities were partial towards her. She then had sought appropriate action against the accused in the matter.

Justice Subramaniyan Prasad in his verdict on Thursday said that the victim has legal rights to take action against the accused under Section 13 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

Prasad has also directed the internal probe committee to hand her the report of the probe, that she had not received initially.

READ: An unknown 'Beautiful Mind' passes into oblivion!