Editing Kalakshetra Foundation (section)

==Controversy==
In December 2022, allegations of sexual abuse in the campus began to surface after former director [[Leela Samson]] wrote a social media post accusing a teacher of harassing and molesting students, but hadn't specified the name of the teacher. In the following months, over a hundred students of Kalakshetra Foundation's Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts accused senior faculty member, Hari Padman, of sexual harassment. The accusations spanned a number of years. Padman was exonerated following an internal investigation, and Kalakshetra Foundation issued a gag order preventing students and staff from discussing the allegations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://theprint.in/features/kalakshetra-chennai-has-a-posh-problem-students-fume-gag-order-imposed-art-world-shaken/|title=Kalakshetra Chennai has a PoSH problem. Students fume, gag order imposed, art world shaken|date=2023-03-21|work=The Print|access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref> On 21 March 2023, the [[National Commission for Women]] began investigating the allegations,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://theprint.in/india/ncw-seeks-action-from-tamil-nadu-dgp-against-kalakshetra-teacher-facing-sexual-harassment-charge/1464299/|title=NCW seeks action from Tamil Nadu DGP against Kalakshetra teacher facing sexual harassment charge|date=2023-03-22|work=The Print|access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref> but closed the investigation shortly, after a victim denied any sexual harassment during an enquiry.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kalakshetra-harassment-row-ncw-chairperson-visits-campus-enquires-about-allegations-175243 |title=Kalakshetra harassment row: NCW chairperson visits campus, enquires about allegations |date=29 March 2023 |work=The News Minute}}</ref> On 30 March, the students began protests against the inaction of the Kalakshetra authorities, by walking out of a routine morning prayer when Padman walked in.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/chennai-s-kalakshetra-students-protest-call-end-harassment-campus-175268 |title=Chennai's Kalakshetra students protest, call for end to harassment in the campus |work=The News Minute |date=30 March 2023}}</ref> The protests prompted a response from the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister [[M. K. Stalin]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-cm-stalin-assures-of-action-against-those-involved-in-sexual-harassment-of-kalakshetra-students/article66683139.ece |title=Tamil Nadu CM Stalin assures of action against those involved in sexual harassment of Kalakshetra students
 |work=The Hindu |date=31 March 2023}}</ref> after which an [[First information report|FIR]] was registered against Padman by the Tamil Nadu police. The Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women also launched an investigation and received over 90 written complaints regarding various issues faced by the students of the foundation. Padman was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police on 3 April 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/sexual-harassment-case-kalakshetra-assistant-professor-hari-padman-arrested-in-chennai/articleshow/99200532.cms?from=mdr |title=Sexual harassment case: Kalakshetra assistant professor Hari Padman arrested in Chennai |work=The Times of India |date=3 April 2023}}</ref> In response, Padman's wife Divya Hari Padman filed a counter complaint against the victim and two teachers working in the institute.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kalakshetra-sexual-harassment-case-assistant-professor-hari-padman-wife-files-counter-complaint-2356318-2023-04-06 |title=Kalakshetra sexual harassment case: Accused Hari Padman's wife files counter complaint |work=India Today |date=6 April 2023}}</ref> Amidst the sexual harassment allegations, students also raised complaints about mismanagement by the foundation director Revathi Ramachandran, referring to the coverup of a food poisoning outbreak in November 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kalakshetra-director-covered-food-poisoning-outbreak-middle-pandemic-175560 |title=Kalakshetra director covered up a food poisoning outbreak in the middle of the pandemic |work=The News Minute |date=6 April 2023}}</ref>