India, Feb. 27 -- In response to the recent rise in sexual abuse cases reported in educational institutions across Tamil Nadu, the Madras high court has ordered the state government to provide a status report on the establishment of "Student Safeguarding Advisory Committees" in all government schools.

A bench consisting of justices J Nisha Banu and S Srimathy from the Madurai bench of the high court issued the directive following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate G Shabna from Theni district.

Shabna highlighted that the state education department issued a government order on June 17, 2021, introducing guidelines to protect students from sexual harassment. The guidelines were introduced in response to numerous allegati...