It all began with the social media raising a shrill voice on May 23 about the inappropriate behaviour of a PSBB School (K.K.Nagar branch) teacher. A complaint was lodged. The school management refuted the allegation of receipt of prior complaint and it offered its fullest co-operation in the case registered by police against the said teacher under POCSO Act. The management of the school suspended the teacher; police investigation is on. The school authorities have also been quizzed. Meanwhile, School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi keeps harping on taking over the school, thus betraying the ulterior motive of the present dispensation. The State government, it seems, has constituted a committee to look into similar complaints from the students of PSBB. No doubt, it is a heinous crime and upon proof, deterrent punishment should be meted out, as more of such incidents have been occurring in many schools throughout the state.
While so, in this issue, a social-media trial has been raging with so many “witnesses” and “juries” giving “order/judgment” keeping in mind the need of “speedy justice”, of course, without identifying the accused, victim and prosecution. However, these “juries” failed to deliver their verdict in prior cases which had either been kept pending or had kept the victim in silence. Also, these “juries”, violate the principles of natural justice as is evident from the hypocrisy in their dual approach towards the present and other cases. Moreover, there is no explanation by these “witnesses” as to why they are airing such selective high pitched protests at present. They fail to spell out why they kept mum in earlier cases wherein they claimed themselves were victims.
Along the media trial, Brahmin hatred is being unleashed under the garb of dealing with a sexual harassment complaint. Training the gun against the perpetrator of crime is understandable. But resorting to carpet-bombing or blaming a caste is ominous. Will not the situation lead to Tamil Brahmins facing the fate of Kashmiri Pandits, observers ask. Such a heinous generalisation, if applied in the case of Chrisitan schools under cloud because of similar charges (which are not few) should end up in crucifying Christianity lock stock and barrel ! Is that OK, juries &co?
