Tamil Nadu law university students protest VC’s remarks on women’s attire

Students of the Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU) have staged protests against Vice Chancellor V Nagaraj over his alleged remarks suggesting that women wearing shorts invite sexual harassment and distract faculty members.

In a statement issued on April 15, the student community reportedly said the comments were made during an official meeting with class representatives. The students strongly condemned the remarks, terming them inappropriate and insensitive.

As per reports, the statement further alleged that the vice-chancellor had referred to a previous controversy during his tenure at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in 2016, when he had made similar comments about a female student. According to the students, he expressed pride in his earlier remarks and did not offer any apology or retraction.

The student body reportedly said the repeated statements were not an isolated instance but reflected a pattern that could normalise harassment and place the burden on victims.

The protesters have demanded a public apology from the vice-chancellor, an institutional inquiry into the matter, and a formal affirmation that clothing choices do not contribute to harassment.

Following the controversy, students held demonstrations on campus, with many wearing black attire and shorts as a mark of protest against the remarks.

Responding to the criticism, Nagaraj said his comments had been taken out of context and that he would present his explanation before the appropriate authorities.