TNNLU Students Protest VC Remarks Linking Women’s Clothing to Sexual Harassment

Students of Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU) have raised strong objections against remarks made by Vice Chancellor V Nagaraj, which allegedly linked women’s clothing to incidents of sexual harassment. The controversy has triggered protests on campus and renewed discussions on gender sensitivity in educational institutions.

The issue arose from a statement released by the student body on April 15, where it was claimed that the Vice Chancellor, during a meeting with Class Representatives, stated that women wearing shorts could invite sexual harassment and distract faculty members. The remarks were widely criticised by students.

In their statement, students expressed concern that such views shift responsibility onto victims rather than addressing the behaviour of perpetrators. They emphasised that such comments undermine efforts to create a safe and inclusive academic environment for all students, particularly women.

The student body also pointed out that this was not the first instance of such remarks by the Vice Chancellor. They referred to a 2016 incident during his tenure at NLSIU, where he had made similar comments about a female student’s attire. According to the students, there has been no expression of regret or correction regarding those earlier remarks.

Students further stated that repeated comments of this nature reflect a deeper institutional issue rather than an isolated lapse. They argued that such statements risk normalising harassment and place an unfair burden on individuals instead of addressing systemic concerns related to safety and accountability.

Following the controversy, protests were held within the university campus. Students reportedly wore black clothes and shorts as a form of symbolic resistance, highlighting their disagreement with the remarks and calling for greater sensitivity from the administration.

The protesting students have made specific demands, including a public retraction and apology from the Vice Chancellor, initiation of an institutional inquiry, and a clear affirmation that clothing choices do not justify or contribute to harassment.

In response to the developments, the Vice Chancellor stated that his remarks had been taken out of context. He also indicated that he would provide an explanation before the appropriate authorities regarding the matter.