The process set in motion after six students complained of inappropriate behaviour by a head of the department of SN College, Chembazhanthy in Thiruvananthapuram last year was a classic example of how the faculty and the management could gang up to humiliate the victims.

First, the students were vehemently disbelieved. Then, when the College was forced to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), it was done reluctantly and improperly. And this ICC, instead of being sensitive as required by law, took on the students like they were adversaries.

Not surprisingly, the ICC report concluded that the complaints were fake and recommended action against the six complainants. It was said that the complaints were the result of a conspiracy hatched by the students and another teacher of the College, Manu Remakant, the head of the department of English.

The accused was made the victim. It was even said that the accused could file defamation against the victims. The principal lost no time to suspend the students.

Refusing to yield, the students approached the director of Collegiate Education, V Vigneswari. Convinced that there was substance in the students' charges, she asked the deputy director of Collegiate Education, Kollam, B Unnikrishnan Nair (former principal of University College, Thiruvananthapuram), to conduct a comprehensive enquiry. Simultaneously, the students also secured a stay order on the principal's disciplinary action from the High Court.

The deputy director met everyone involved in the case - students, the accused head of the department of politics, the teacher who allegedly instigated the students, members of the ICC, other teachers and non-teaching staff - recorded their statements, examined the available evidence and turned the tables. The accused was pronounced guilty of all the charges.

The students had accused the professor of "obscene stares", accidental WhatsApp calls at ungodly hours, cringe-inducing WhatsApp "kiss and hug" emojis, sexually-loaded remarks and even threats.

Here are the major findings of the deputy director. One, the accused teacher, head of the Department of Politics, Abhilash T, had indeed sent WhatsApp messages and made WhatsApp calls to these girl students.

Two, his tendency to unnecessarily prolong phone conversations had caused deep discomfort in the students.

Three, it cannot be justified that the accused teacher had persisted with sending "kiss, hug and wink" emojis even after one of the complainants had specifically told him that such emojis were making her uncomfortable and should be avoided.

Four, though the accused teacher, Abhilash, said that the WhatsApp calls were sent when his fingers accidentally tapped the touch screen, it has to be noted that more than one student were at the wrong end of such "accidental" WhatsApp calls.

Five, the report of the assistant commissioner of police on November 4, 2021, had also stated that it was unbecoming of a teacher to keep calling girl students disregarding their irritation and dislike.

Six, the comments of an ICC member, physical education instructor Amjith, are "unpardonable".

Seven, the 'gender sensitisation' discussion held as part of the online programme, 'Veyil Pookkal', organised by the head of the department of English, Manu Remakant, was conducted in a "responsible manner". The charge that the online platform was used to settle personal scores is "unacceptable".

Eight, the action taken against the students after the ICC report was published was "discriminatory". Many of these students were not allowed to attend classes, including practical lab classes.

Nine, by allowing the accused to continue, the College has created a situation where the victims were forced to interact with him. This will stand in the way of these students getting natural justice.