Women's Commission Asks Loyola College To Compensate The Sexual Harassment Survivor

The Tamil Nadu Commission for Women has asked Loyola College in Chennai to compensate the sexual harassment survivor who had been the institute’s employee. The survivor had approached the commission in November this year after which the commission conducted an inquiry and found merit in the survivor’s case against the Loyola College.

The commission came to the conclusion after visiting the college in person on December 15.

The survivor used to work at Loyola College before 2014 when she was allegedly sexually harassed by the Director of the Alumni Association. After reporting the institute about it, she was asked to stay home until the accused was ‘moved’ from the college. She had also been assured that her salary during that tenure will be given to her after she reports back to work. But the survivor alleged that the institute never contacted her after that and stopped responding to her inquiries.

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She had filed a petition against the institute and the sexual harassment accused to Madras High Court in 2016. Both the respondents decided to file a counter-affidavit against the case in 2020. The accused reportedly called the allegations “false and mischievous” and the college said the survivor was on contractual employment and had been relieved of her duties. They also said that survivor has been terminated in September this year.

The Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women looked into the matter and found out that the college was at fault. The commission submitted a report on December 22 which stated that the college is supposed to inform the Directorate of Collegiate Education when they terminate a staff but the college had failed to that. It also said that the survivor has a “very good” track record and that the college stopped her from work deliberately.

"For the kind of trauma and physical and sexual abuse she has been submitted to, she has to be adequately compensated, expeditiously," the report stated. The report also said that the survivor has been subjected to intense suffering which must be alleviated immediately. “The commission hereby orders to pay back wages and compensation with interest for harassment mentally and sexually"

The survivor has asked or a compensation of Rs 64 lakh. Out of the amount, 24 lakhs is her unpaid salary from April 2014, Rs 25 Lakh for sexual harassment and mental pressures after that.

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Image credit: Loyolacollege.edu