General feeling is Christian coed institutions 'highly unsafe' for future of girl children: HC

The Madras High Court on Friday observed that there was a general feeling that coeducational study in Christian educational institutions was "highly unsafe" for the future of girl children and though Christian missionaries impart good education, their preaching of morality would be a "million dollar question".

The judge made the observations while refusing to quash a show-cause notice issued to a professor of Madras Christian College (MCC) facing sexual harassment charge from at least 34 girl students doing third-year Zoology course in the college.

"There is a general feeling among parents of students, especially female students, that coeducational study in Christian institutions is highly unsafe for the future of their children," Justice S Vaidyanathan said.

The judge further said Christian missionaries always came under attack for some issue or the other.

"In the present era, there are several accusations against them for indulging in compulsory conversion of people of other religions into Christianity...Though they impart good education, their preaching of morality will be a million dollar question," Justice Vaidyanathan added.

Referring to misuse of several laws that had originally been brought to safeguard the welfare of women, the judge observed that it was time the government amended those laws to protect innocent men too.

"It is right time for the government to think of suitable amendment in those laws in order to prevent its misuse so as to safeguard the interest of the innocent masculinity too."