PSBB suspends teacher accused of sexual harassment
New Delhi : Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan (PSBB) School, Chennai has suspended one of its teachers accused of sexual harassment charges levelled against him by current and former students.
The action has been initiated after the school received requests from over 1,000 alumni demanding a full inquiry into the issue. In an internal communique reportedly to the teacher himself, the management stated that he is suspended with immediate effect.
“Some very serious allegations of misconduct have been alleged against you and the same has come to the knowledge of the management from and through social media,” the communique said.
Since Sunday evening, several present and past students had been posting their complaints of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour against a teacher of PSBB school. The teacher has been accused of touching students inappropriately, making comments on students bodies, slut-shaming students, asking a student out, turning up to online class topless, wearing just a towel around his waist, sharing links to pornography with his students.
It all started with an Instagram user and a former student of PSBB, Kripali, explaining one instance of sexual harassment at the school from this teacher. Soon after that a series of students shared their own experiences, thus sparking a barrage of allegations of similar misbehaviour from him. As the matter became viral, several alumni of the school supported the call for inquiry in the matter.
Several politicians also joined the demand for justice with the likes of DMK’s Kanimozhi, Dayanidhi Maran and Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Congress MP Jothimani and PMK’s Ramadoss demanding justice in the matter. DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran also wrote to the Union Minister for Education seeking appropriate investigation into the matter and to probe lapses in the mechanism that is there to address similar issues.
