PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss Condemns DMK Government Over Teacher's POCSO Case in Salem
In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, PMK president and Rajya Sabha MP Dr Anbumani Ramadoss has slammed the school education department authorities in Salem for their alleged negligence in handling a serious case involving a government school teacher.
Teacher Arrested for Sexual Harassment of Students
The controversy centers around P Balasubramanian, a teacher at a government school near Sankagiri, who was recently arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly sexually harassing several girl students. What makes this case particularly alarming, according to Anbumani, is that the teacher already had a pending POCSO case registered against him at the Suramangalam police station for similar allegations.
"Even government schools have become unsafe under the DMK government," Anbumani declared in his statement, expressing deep concern about the safety of students in educational institutions across Tamil Nadu.
Systemic Failure in Background Checks
The PMK leader pointed to what he called a "systemic failure" in the education department's vetting process. Despite having an active POCSO case pending against him, the teacher was allowed to continue working in a government school where he allegedly committed similar offenses, leading to his eventual arrest.
Anbumani questioned how someone with such serious allegations already against them could be permitted to remain in a position of authority over vulnerable children. "This represents a complete breakdown of the protective mechanisms that should be in place to safeguard our students," he emphasized.
Alarming Rise in POCSO Cases Under DMK Government
To underscore his criticism of the current administration, Anbumani presented disturbing statistics about POCSO cases registered in Tamil Nadu over the past six years:
- 3,057 cases in 2020
- 4,415 cases in 2021
- 4,906 cases in 2022
- 4,581 cases in 2023
- 6,975 cases in 2024
- 7,000 cases in 2025
"The number of cases reflects a sharp rise since the DMK came to power," Anbumani stated, highlighting what he sees as a troubling trend under the current government.
Broader Pattern of Crimes Against Women
The PMK president expanded his criticism beyond just POCSO cases, noting that "as many as 44,418 crimes against women occurred in the last five years" in Tamil Nadu. He suggested that the Salem teacher case is not an isolated incident but rather indicative of broader systemic failures in protecting vulnerable populations.
Anbumani's statement comes amid growing concerns about child safety in educational institutions across the state. The incident has raised serious questions about background check procedures for school staff and the effectiveness of existing safeguards meant to protect students from potential predators.
The PMK leader called for immediate action to review and strengthen protective measures in schools, particularly regarding staff vetting processes and response protocols when allegations surface against educators. He emphasized that ensuring student safety should be the highest priority for any education system.
