HC imposes fine on college for fudging attendance; directs to pay Rs 1.5 lakh to rape victim

Taking a stern view of a private college and 58 of its students forging attendance, the Madras High Court today imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh on the institution and asked it to pay the amount to parents of the Ayanavaram rape victim.

Justice S Vaidyanathan also directed the students to pay an amount of Rs 50,000 "jointly to the parents".

The students of GS College of Kangeyam had filed a plea seeking a direction to the university to allow them to redo the exams of the first, third and fourth semesters in the Bachelor of Physical Education.

"There is no reason as to why the college is trying to fool everyone and play fraud. So, the college is directed to pay the cost of Rs 1,50,000 to the parents of the recent rape victim of Ayanavaram, Chennai, enabling to use the amount for the treatment and welfare of the victim girl.

"The students are also directed to pay an amount of Rs 50,000 jointly to the parents..." Justice Vaidyanathan said.

The Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University, under which the college is functioning, found that the attendance details submitted by the college were forged.

The university found that the college and the students were hand in glove and forged the attendance, and did not allow the 58 students to write their semester exams following which they approached the court.

When the matter came up, Justice Vaidyanathan imposed a cost on the college and students and directed them to pay the amount to the girl's family.

A seventh standard hearing impaired girl was allegedly raped multiple times over the past seven months in an apartment complex at Ayanavaram here.

Police have arrested 17 of her suspected tormentors.