Panel finds Chennai Dental College suspended HoD oral pathology guilty of sexual harassment

Chennai: Nearly seven months after the Tamil Nadu Health Department suspended the Head of the Oral Pathology Department at Government Dental College, Chennai, over multiple serious sexual harassment complaints, a three-member inquiry committee set up by the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DME) has submitted its preliminary report. The committee has found the doctor prima facie guilty of the allegations.

A final report is yet to be submitted, after which action will be taken against the former HoD. Meanwhile, a senior DME official confirmed that charges have been formally framed against him under Section 17(b) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules (which deals with the procedure to be followed for imposing major punitive measures).

Also read- Chennai Dental College HoD Oral Pathology suspended over sexual harassment allegations

According to the rules, once the preliminary report is submitted, the government must appoint an inquiry officer within 30 days.

The professor may even be terminated from service, but it will be the state government’s prerogative to decide on the action to be taken against the accused based on the report, the official said. The professor can approach courts for relief if he is aggrieved with the findings of the inquiry officer and the action taken by the state, sources informed TNIE.

The three-member panel was formed by the DME, and the inquiry responsibility was given to Dr. K Shantharam, Dean of Madras Medical College, after it was revealed that the accused professor continued to serve as HoD despite several sexual harassment complaints. On May 23, Health Secretary P Senthilkumar issued an order, placing him immediately under suspension.

Medical Dialogues earlier reported that the Tamil Nadu Health Department suspended him after complaints had been made for over a year without any action being taken. Complaints from staff and postgraduate female students included repeated verbal abuse, casteist and sexually inappropriate remarks, body shaming, and emotional harassment.

Several female students and a senior faculty member alleged that he recorded them without consent and made degrading remarks about their appearance. Some victims also accused him of making disturbing comments related to self-harm and suicide.

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