Goa University V-C Served Notice Over ‘Underwear Parade’ at Cultural Fest

Quick Summary

• The Goa State Human Rights Commission issued a notice to Goa University Vice-chancellor Harilal B. Menon, asking him to appear and submit a reply by July 23.
• The notice pertains to an alleged incident during the February inter-departmental cultural festival “Frolic,” where male students were reportedly paraded in their underwear as part of a competition called “Third Degree.”
• The Commission took suo motu cognisance of media reports suggesting human rights violations.
• National Students Union of India (NSUI) leader Naushad Chaudhury condemned the event, noting that both male and female students faced an embarrassing situation.
• NSUI plans protests while the opposition Goa Forward Party (GFP) initially brought attention to this issue in media statements.
• Goa University declared Friday as a discretionary holiday following the controversy.

Indian Opinion Analysis

This incident underscores serious concerns about maintaining decorum and respecting boundaries within educational institutions. Allegations such as these shine a spotlight on systemic lapses regarding oversight at public cultural events. While “Frolic” intended to celebrate student engagement, reported actions like forcing male participants into undignified activities betray values meant to uphold inclusivity and respect.

The swift involvement of the Human Rights Commission suggests accountability mechanisms are functioning effectively, though challenges remain in ensuring clear interaction between institutions like universities and external oversight bodies at all times. With NSUI protests looming, proactive steps from university leadership-such as transparent investigations or setting updated conduct guidelines-could mitigate larger backlash for both governance reputations and student morale.Read more: Full Article on the Hindu