Madras HC directs Kalakshetra Foundation to form policy against sexual harassment

Kalakshetra to frame a policy and constitute the Complaints Committee with respect to the schools run by it, both CBSE and State Board, keeping in mind the provisions of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act and other legislations, said the Madras HC.

While hearing a joint petition filed by seven students of the Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts run by Kalakshetra, the Madras high court directed the Kalakshetra Foundation to produce profiles of members in the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) constituted earlier on April 3 and frame a new policy which includes parents and teachers and then reconstitute the ICC.

Justice Dhandapani passed three instructions in his interim order- for Kalakshetra to “place the profiles relating to the members of the ICC constituted on April 3 before the Court by June 7."

Secondly, for Kalakshetra to frame a policy and constitute the Complaints Committee with respect to the schools run by it, both CBSE and State Board, keeping in mind the provisions of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act and other legislations. “....and care shall be taken to include the Parents and Teachers in the Complaints Committee, which would be constituted in furtherance of the said policy framed,” the court said in its orders, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Thirdly, the judge clarified a point in his previous interim order passed on April 17 that Kalakshetra must not take any coercive action against students and faculty who had raised concerns during a sensitisation meeting on campus conducted by the previous ICC on January 3.

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