Caste slur: Student withdraws complaint against Lekshmi Nair
- The student had complained that Lekshmi Nair ridiculed him by calling caste name
- He approached High Court seeking a directive to transfer the case to a senior officer
- On Thursday, students counsel informed court that he has withdrawn his complaint
FollowThe student, who had filed a complaint against Kerala Law Academy principal, Lekshmi Nair, that she made casteist remarks against him, has withdrawn his case.
V G Vivek, a fourth-semester student of the college had filed a complaint with the police that the principal ridiculed him while he was standing in front of her office along with his friends. Based on the complaint police registered a case under Sections 3(1)(i) of Scheduled Castes and Tribes (prevention of atrocities) Act 1989.
The FIR was that Lekshmi Nair made the remarks due to grudge over a news report on non-payment of grants to students of backward communities owing to management’s lapses.
The student had complained that on January 21, 2016, the principal addressed him using his caste name while he was standing along with his four friends.
He also complained that she stated that he was not the only student belonging to backward community studying in the college and no other had complaints about non-payment of grant. This act of Nair caused defamed him and caused mental agony, Vivek had complained.
There were also allegations that the police did not take immediate action on the petition. Even Kerala State Human Rights Commission took action on caste slur, including some other complaints.
Vivek approached the High Court seeking a directive to authorise a senior police officer with the case as the investigating officer questioned him twice but never interrogated the accused. He also alleged that there was a move to scuttle the probe.
However, when the case came up for hearing, the counsel for the complainant informed the bench that Vivek has withdrawn his complaint and did not intend to take the matter any further. The petitioner had demanded to remove Lekshmi Nair from the post of principal, and she had demitted the post.
The counsel also requested to quash further proceedings against Nair. However, the court opined that such a demand is not possible on the current petition and asked to file an amended petition. The court will consider the amended petition on Friday.
