By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
A government college professor has been suspended after an audio clip of his sexually inappropriate comments made to a first-year visually challenged student went viral this week, the authorities have said.
Sources from the office of the Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education (RJDCE) in Tiruchi told The Hindu that T. Nagarajan, 45, an assistant professor at the Tamil department of Arignar Anna Government Arts College in Musiri had been suspended from service on Friday morning.
“The faculty member had been working in the college for several years. The decision to suspend him was based not just on the audio clip, but complaints about his problematic behaviour towards students, which included verbal harassment, threats to reduce internal marks and other violations,” the official said.
The offensive clip was reportedly recorded by the visually challenged student with the help of her friend. “It was sent to the tutor in charge, the department head, and the internal complaints committee in the college, as proof of Mr. Nagarajan’s misconduct. Based on inquiries carried out by us and the recommendation of the District Social Welfare Officer and RJDCE, the staff member has been suspended. As there has been no previous record of his misconduct, and his re-employment would depend on the outcome of an inquiry,” the college principal said.
