MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday, passed an interim order restraining the police from probing into and filing a report on alleged sexual harassment charges against M Arockiasamy, headmaster of Government High School, Pothumbu, near Madurai, before the Judicial Magistrate.Justice K Chandru passed the interim order after considering the plea of one of the victim’s father who underlined the need for a congenial atmosphere for the trial and sensitive and effective handling of the issue.Earlier, the parent had demanded that the trial be shifted from regular criminal court to another place with congenial atmosphere allowing children to depose against the headmaster without any fear or reservations. He said the victims and their parents were worried about the consequences of submitting themselves to the legal process fearing “secondary victimisation”.Justice Chandru, before whom the matter was posted, observed that the court was not satisfied with the response of the respondents to the affidavit. “At this stage, there has been no counter affidavit to the main allegations by the official respondents. There will be an order of interim stay of further investigation,” he said.He also restrained the Inspector of Police of All Women Police Station at Samayanallur from filing the final report before any jurisdictional magistrate until further orders were passed.
Comments
0 comment