Child Rights Body Seeks Action Against Tamil Nadu Minister Over Physical Contact with Girl Athletes

The Tamil Nadu Child Rights Watch (TNCRW) has called on the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to take action against Higher Education Minister P. Viswanathan for touching the legs of girl athletes during a school event in Madurai. In a letter to the commission, the child rights body requested that it take suo motu cognisance of the incident and seek a report from the state government.

The incident occurred at a recent event at the Government School in Melur, where the minister approached a group of girl athletes and touched their extended legs and cracked their toes while talking to them. TNCRW convener Jesu Rathinam said such allegations involving the physical boundaries of children require prompt, transparent, and independent scrutiny to maintain public confidence in child protection mechanisms.

The organisation urged the NCPCR to recommend protocols for all government departments, educational institutions, and organisers of public events involving children, ensuring that interactions by public officials strictly respect children's bodily autonomy and dignity. TNCRW co-convenor A. Devaneyan also requested that the commission direct the Tamil Nadu Director-General of Police to examine the matter, and if a cognisable offence is found, to register an FIR and conduct an impartial investigation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Separately, TNCRW has written to Chief Minister M. K. Stalin regarding programmes organised at government schools to celebrate actor Vijay's birthday. The body stated that the events were neither educationally appropriate nor consistent with the purpose of schools. Co-convenor Stegana Jency urged the Chief Minister to direct the School Education Department to investigate and take action against any individuals or authorities who encouraged such activities, which compromise the neutrality of educational institutions. The letter called for comprehensive guidelines prohibiting the use of schools for political publicity or partisan campaigns, and for establishing a mechanism to report and address such incidents.