Coming as an interim relief, the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women has ordered the Loyola College administration to immediately compensate (with interest and without delay) a sum of ₹64.30 lakhs to Mary, the survivor in the Loyola College sexual harassment case.
An order issued by the State Commission for Women stated that back wages of ₹30,000 for 81 months starting from April 2014 along with ₹25 lakhs for mental agony and sexual harassment, and ₹15 lakhs as compensation for filing false complaint, be paid with interest as claimed by the survivor.
On 15th December 2020, the State Commission for Women led by its Chairperson Dr. Kannegi Packianathan IAS visited the Loyola College and conducted an enquiry after the college administration failed to turn up despite two summons from the Commission.
The Rector of Loyola College, Rev Dr Francis P. Xavier, SJ., had cited old age and COVID-19 pandemic for not turning up. Following this, the Commission intimated the college administration about their arrival for the enquiry.
During the enquiry, the Commission had raised issue of original certificates of Mary not being returned to her to which the Rector had replied that they ‘may have been’ submitted at the High Court, where the case is pending.
Mary had also raised in her complaint to the Commission that she was not given a relieving order by Loyola College and was orally asked to ‘stay away from work’. As per rules, Loyola College has to inform the Directorate of Collegiate Education whenever a staff is terminated. However, no such letter was sent to the Directorate of Collegiate Education.
It is in light of this that Mary had approached the Commission in the hope of getting relief.
The Commission in its order stated that Mary had a very good track record to be very good and that there was no reason for terminating her service. It also observed that Loyola College has abruptly stopped her from work deliberately and added that it views the matter to be a distressing case of a senior citizen.
“For the kind of trauma and physical and sexual abuse she has been submitted to, she has to be compensated, expeditiously”, the order noted.
The Commission in its order stated that there were other issues that surfaced during the enquiry. Funds from the old students were kept under Loyola College Society instead of getting accounted for in a separate Alumni Funds account duly registered under the The Societies Act. It also stated that Mary was subjected to intense suffering which must be alleviated immediately.
“The Commission hereby orders to pay back wages and compensation with interest for harassment mentally and sexually.”, the order said.
Mary has also filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court for taking action against the harasser, Father Xavier Alphonse, and has also challenged her abrupt termination of services by Loyola College.
To know more about the Loyola College sexual harassment case, click here.