AIDWA condemns the victimization of two girl students of the University of Pondicherry who had complained of being sexually harassed and ragged by two senior male students on the university campus on 29.9.2013. It is shocking that instead of taking immediate action against the male students, who had harassed the girls by making obscene gestures, using abusive language, and threatening them that they would be raped and sexually assaulted, the University has chosen to suspend these two girls for a period of 6 months, as they had ‘defamed’ the University. Even to get an inquiry instituted, these students and other student organizations had to protest through demonstrations. The University has also given suspension orders to other five students who had extended support to the students for inciting the protest and going to the press with the incident. These actions of the University authorities are totally against the law, which does not allow any kind of victimization of those who make a complaint of sexual harassment. The only two students who should have been suspended are those who are responsible for the harassment. Thus, instead of getting justice, the girl students are being penalized for demanding justice.
AIDWA demands that the suspension order against the two girl students and the other five students, who supported them should be immediately withdrawn. It further demands that a proper inquiry should be conducted against those miscreants who are responsible for the harassment and for creating a hostile university environment, and stringent punishment should be given to them. AIDWA further demands that Pondicherry University should formulate a proper Sexual Harassment Policy and set up a Sexual Harassment Complaints Committee, along the lines of the Complaint Committees set up in other Universities, like Delhi. AIDWA reiterates the rights of all students to protest against violations of their dignity and against sexual harassment and ragging.
Along with protesting this violation in Pondicherry, AIDWA will approach the NCW, and the UGC demanding that justice be done.
