The National Human Rights Commission has asked the Government of Madhya Pradesh to explain its silence over the departmental action against a Hostel Superintendent, who allegedly sexually abused a class 10th student in Bharewa Boy’s Hostel on July 20, 2014. The Commission has also sought details about the relief and rehabilitation measures taken for the victim, within four weeks.
In the show-cause notice issued to the State Government, through its Chief Secretary, the Commission has also asked why interim monetary relief of `25,000 should not be recommended to be paid to the victim boy. Further, the District Magistrate, Umaria, has been directed to take steps for rehabilitation and education facilitu for the victim under the welfare schemes of the State and Central Governments, and ordered appropriate action against the guilty.
The Commission’s directions have come after it found that though the State Government had confirmed the incident in a report, it was silent on the departmental action, if any, taken against the accused as well as the quantum of compensation granted to the victim under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act & Rules. Further, no information had been furnished about the rehabilitation and education facilities granted to the victim boy under various welfare schemes.
However, the report, submitted by the Superintendent of Police, Umaria, said that an FIR was registered under the POCSO Act against the Superintendent of Boy’s Hostel and a chargesheet was filed in the court in the matter.
The Commission had taken cognizance of the matter on the basis of a complaint dated August 4, 2014 that a student of class 10th was sexually abused twice by the Superintendent of the Boy’s Hostel, Bharewa.