Hebri: Headmaster faces legal action for sexual harassment

 

Karkala, 31 Jul 2014: A school head master and two others have been charged for allegedly sexually harassing a high school student. Pavithra, a class 10 student in her complaint filed through her parents alleged that the head master Venkataramana Kalkura had been misbehaving and sexually harassing her for past six months.

 

The high school even brought this matter to the notice of another teacher (Hemavathi) but she supported the headmaster. The girl confided in her parents, who approached Suresh Shetty, gram panchayat president but in vain.

 

The police have arrested Venkataramana, and also teacher Hemavathi and Suresh Shetty for allegedly supporting the accused.

 

Annamalai Karkala ASP  has taken charge of the investigation. Police report claims that the headmaster had sexually abused Hema and Swathi  two more students of Class 10. When this issue came to light, the others too lodged a complaint.

 

Venkataramana and his old habits

Venkataramana was serving as the head master of a high school at Kundapur. He was transferred by the department to the high school in his hometown Shivapura following complaints of sexual abuse.

 

However , he seems to have proven the saying ’Old habits seldom die’.

 

DDPI issues order, suspends Venkataramana

The DDPI, Udupi has issued a suspension order based on the complaints lodged by Pavithra’s parents and Hema and Swati all students of Class 10 at the Hebri Police station.

 

The DDPI has issued the suspension order under Karnataka Civil Services Act, 1957 under Rule 10 (2) (b) which reads:

 

A Government servant shall be deemed to have been placed under suspension by an order of appointing authority-

(b) With effect from the date of his conviction, if in the event of a conviction for an offence, he is sentenced to a term of imprisonment exceeding forty-eight hours and is not forthwith dismissed or removed or compulsorily retired consequent to such conviction.