NHRC notice to Govt of Arunachal Pradesh

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that 88 girls were forced to remove all their clothes in front of their entire school as punishment by the three teachers when they did not confess for having written vulgar words against the head teacher and another student on a piece of paper. The incident, reportedly, happened at the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, District Papum Pare, Arunachal Pradesh, on November 23, 2017.

The NHRC has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, calling for a detailed report in the matter along with action taken against the guilty teachers and steps taken for counselling of the victim students. The response is expected within 4 weeks, according to an NHRC release.

The Commission has observed that the sordid act of the school teachers, as reported in the media, is indeed inexcusable. Teachers are always highly respected in the society as they play the role of a true guide and protector for their students. Such an inhuman and insensible act can’t be expected from a teacher. Stripping minor girls in front of the entire school is unethical and cruel act committed by the teachers who were their lawful custodians and protectors at that time. The right to dignity of the innocent minor girls has been grossly violated and it will definitely take time for them to overcome the trauma, the NHRC observed, according to the NHRC release.

The Commission has also asked the  Secretary, Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, to inform whether any guidelines for protection of the students from such maltreatment or humiliation have been made/circulated to the States, and if so, a copy of the same and status of their implementation be provided to the Commission within 4 weeks.

According to the media report, carried on December 1, 2017, the victims and their parents approached the All Sagalee Students Union (ASSU) on November 27, 2017. The ASSU reported the matter to the police and got an FIR registered. The police authorities have, reportedly, stated that they will examine the victims, their families and the alleged perpetrators – the teachers, and conduct an investigation into the matter.