- By TS Venkatesan
Following pressure from Hindu Munnani, Tirunelveli police arrested a professor of government aided St. Xavier’s College in Palayamkottai, St. Xavier’s College Palayamkottai, on 14th for allegedly talking a girl student in an obscene manner over phone and inviting her over for drinking liquor with him late at night a week ago.
According to media reports, 40 years old professor S Jebsastin from Tiruchendur and T Palraj from Thoothukudi both of Sociology department made the calls to the student in an inebriated stage on the night of 4th September.
Palraj spoke to the girl student obscenely before handing over the phone to Jebastin who also made inappropriate comments and invited her to join them for drinks. The student did not know how to react to their behaviour and made up her mind to inform her parents. She approached the police with a complaint. On Saturday , a special team arrested Jebastin in Thoothukudi while Palraj is on the run.
The story has a surprising twist. The parents of student informed the police they did not want to pursue the case and asked them to drop it , citing concerns that pursuing the matter might negatively impact their daughter’s studies. Accepting their request police has kept the complaint aside. But following the news went viral in Social media and Hindu Munnani taking it up. police had to reopen the case. Hindu Munnani had threatened legal action if the professors were not arrested. Tirunelveli City Commissioner Rupesh Meena personally oversaw the investigation, which confirmed that both professors had indeed made inappropriate calls to the student.
The college was set up in 1923 by Rev. Fr. Jesuit, Madurai . The St. Xavier’s, a Jesuit college of arts and science, and autonomous since June 1987, is an affiliated First Grade College of the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University which will award degrees with the name of St. Xavier’s College mentioned on them.This college, which has over 4,000 students in its rolls, is known for its long-standing reputation and attracts students from various districts. The Palayamkottai campus, often called the Oxford of the South, is the main campus of this historic institution.
Palayamkottai police have charged the two professors under sections 74, 75, and 79(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for their obscene behavior towards the student. The scandal has shocked both the academic community and students, given the college’s esteemed reputation. Additionally, there have been reports of previous complaints against some professors at Saint Xavier College, raising concerns that further revelations may emerge as the investigation continues.
Only last week, Police arrested two male teachers Robert (48) and Nelson (55) on 11th September on charges of sexually harassing boy students at an government aided St John’s Higher Secondary school in Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli. The arrested teachers were taking classes for 7th Standard students.
Police team spoke to the boys in the school , parents, staff and the accused teachers. Police said the school management has placed Nelson , permanent staff, under suspension. Robert , a contract staff member has been sacked.
