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Class representatives present at the meeting with the NLU Trichy Vice Chancellor revealed that he had observed women students at the university wearing shorts to class, and that such clothing "invites sexual harassment" and is "a distraction" for other students. He further suggested that faculty members may also be tempted by such clothing.
V Nagaraj claimed he was the only Vice Chancellor in the country with the “courage” to speak on dress codes, asserting that his statements were “taken out of context.”
Chennai,UPDATED: Apr 17, 2026 15:13 IST
Student outrage has reached a boiling point at the National Law School of Tamil Nadu (NLU Trichy) following a series of sexist comments made by Vice Chancellor V Nagaraj.
During a meeting originally intended to discuss student welfare, including terrace access and campus life, the VC reportedly diverted the conversation to target the attire of female students.
According to Class Representatives present at the meeting, who spoke to India Today under the condition of anonymity, VC Nagaraj framed his comments as “fatherly advice” while explicitly engaging in the very “moral policing” he claimed to avoid.
They revealed that he had observed women students at the university wearing shorts to class, and that such clothing “invites sexual harassment” and is “a distraction” for other students. He further suggested that faculty members may also be tempted by such clothing.
THE VC'S DEFIANT CLARIFICATION
Following the eruption of student protests on campus, the Vice Chancellor issued a clarification that many students found equally dismissive. Rather than apologising, he doubled down on his stance regarding institutional reputation:
“In my personal opinion, if you want to improve the institution’s reputation, presentable dress may be one factor... I am not here to answer questions; I am here to say what I want to say. I am only answerable to my higher authorities,” he stated.
He further claimed he was the only VC in the country with the “courage” to speak on dress codes, asserting that his statements were “taken out of context.”
A HISTORY OF MISOGYNY: THE 2016 NLSIU INCIDENT
This is not the first time Professor V Nagaraj has been embroiled in controversy regarding his treatment of female students.
In 2016, while teaching at National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bengaluru, he allegedly shamed a student for wearing shorts during a lecture.
When challenged, his response escalated into character assassination and graphic, inappropriate analogies.
He reportedly told the student, “You can come to class without a dress also. That is how your character is.”
It is also reported that he allegedly made unsettling comments regarding parents and the nature of marriage to justify his stance on “decorum.”
Among several unsavoury statements, Professor Nagaraj is alleged to have said, “We all know why parents marry their children off - so that they can have sex. Just because the parents marry off their children for this reason, it does not mean that the children have sex in front of their parents.”
When students demanded an apology from the professor back then, he not only refused but also vehemently denied making statements such as, “You can come to class without a dress also. That is how your character is.”
Vice Chancellor Nagaraj’s pattern of allegedly degrading behaviour, students now say, has followed him to his current leadership role in Trichy.
The ongoing protests highlight a growing refusal to accept “sexist rhetoric” disguised as “institutional discipline.”
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Published By:
Sayan Ganguly
Published On:
Apr 17, 2026 15:13 IST
English (US) ·