On October 10, 2025, about 200 students at Pondicherry University staged a protest demanding action against faculty accused of sexual harassment and the formation of a credible Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in line with UGC norms. Students alleged that the existing ICC was compromised and protected offenders. In the early hours, police from Kalapet station entered the campus and used force to disperse protestors—including kicking, slapping, and dragging several students into police vans. Twenty-four students, including six women, were detained and an FIR was filed against the group. The clampdown, widely reported in the press, highlights systemic failures in handling sexual harassment complaints in universities and the strong-arm tactics used to suppress peaceful student activism.

HRDA calls for the NHRC to take suo moto cognizance under Section 12(a), initiate an independent inquiry, and ensure protection for students’ democratic rights and fair investigation into their grievances.