TN says comments by TNNLU VC ‘casual’, students continue protest

Trichy: Protests at Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU) intensified for the second consecutive day on Friday over vice-chancellor V Nagaraj's alleged "sexist" remarks about women students wearing shorts, even as senior state govt sources indicated that no action has been initiated against him so far.

According to govt officials, the VC had made the remarks in a "casual" context, recalling a similar comment he had made in 2016 during his tenure at NLSIU. "We had sought an explanation from the registrar and the VC. He said it was made on a casual note. The VC was in Chennai for convocation-related discussions. If any action is to be taken, it has to come from the chancellor first and not the ministry," a senior govt official told TOI.

Meanwhile, all class representatives (CRs) and deputy representatives have resigned in protest.

Registrar Balakrishnan confirmed receiving resignation emails. "Yes, I received mails about their intention to resign. New CRs will be nominated to these posts. But however, the process is to be initiated by them," he said.

Students, however, have continued their agitation on campus. While they decided not to disrupt academic activities during the day, they held demonstrations in the evening and said they will continue this pattern until their demands were addressed.

"We were sitting outside beyond curfew until morning. Not a single faculty member came to meet us through the night. The administration started calling our parents to create panic and pressure us to withdraw. The chief warden told us that women students should not stay out at night as they may get their periods. In the men's hostel too, parents were called and asked about their children's whereabouts. It's insulting," a student alleged.

The students have demanded an apology from the VC, who has since returned to the campus, and action against what they describe as repeated instances of sexist remarks.

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