TIRUNELVELI: The in-charge principal of Rani Anna Government Women's College in Pettai in Tirunelveli has been suspended after participating in a free laptop distribution event in the city, after being arrested for allegedly posting abusive comments against a girl student and released on bail.
The suspension of principal (in-charge) Sumitha by the Directorate of Collegiate Education is in connection with a case registered by the Tirunelveli city cybercrime police over alleged defamatory and obscene social media posts about a second-year postgraduate girl student of the college's Tamil department.
The student had filed a complaint at the Tirunelveli district collectorate last month, after which the petition was forwarded to the Tirunelveli city police commissioner’s office. Based on the complaint, the cybercrime police registered a case and conducted an investigation.
After the inquiry, Sumitha, who was serving as the in-charge principal, and her husband, Ponnudurai, were arrested and later released on bail, police sources said.
Against such a backdrop, Sumitha had attended a state government laptop distribution programme a day before the suspension order was issued. The order suspending her was issued by the Director of the Directorate of Collegiate Education, Sundaravalli.
Meanwhile, faculty members and students are awaiting clarity on whether a permanent principal will be appointed or if another in-charge principal will be nominated from among the college staff.