Thiruvananthapuram, January 20, (BPNS)
The Kerala High Court has called the policymakers to shift attention to value education. According to the court, lessons in good behavior and etiquette must be part of the curriculum. The court also commented that sexism is neither acceptable nor cool. It was while disposing of a writ petition filed by a student of a private college in Kollam against the disciplinary action taken against him for misbehaving with girl students within the campus that the court made the said observations. It was Justice Devan Ramachandran who considered the petition.
Earlier, before making the observations, Justice Ramachandran said that the increasing number of cases of sexual harassment, involving students, particularly within the campuses of educational institutions, compels him to speak and act further.
“Increasing instances of sexual harassment against students, even in schools and colleges, impel us, as a society, to think and introspect very closely. Most of, or all, the allegations of sexual harassment are made against boys and very rarely against girls,” reads an excerpt from the judgment.
According to the court, boys, even from a very young age, often grow up with certain sexist stereotypes – reinforced by peers and other social influences.
“How one treats a woman gives an insight into his upbringing and personality. They should be taught that real men don’t bully women – it is unmanly; and not an expression of macho virtue, but its antithesis. It is, in fact, the weak men who dominate and harass women – this message must ring loud and clear, ” said Ramachandran in his judgment.
The court then directed the Registry to serve a copy of its judgment to the Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala; the Secretary, General Education Department, and Secretary, Higher Education Department; as also the Education Boards like the CBSE, ICSE, and the University Grants Commission to make lessons in good behavior and etiquette a part of the curriculum.
The court said that though it had disposed of the petition, a report regarding the necessary decisions and action taken on its observations will need to be placed on record by the competent authorities of the government before February 3.
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