The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the State Government to pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to each of the 13 students of the Nayagarh-based Navodaya Vidyalaya, who were subjected to sexual exploitations by one of their schoolteachers.
The commission has further directed the State Chief Secretary to send the proof of the payments of the compensation to it within eight weeks.
While making such a significant order, the NHRC has rejected the contention of the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti and observed that such act by a Government servant amounts to violation of human rights under Section 18 of the Protection of Human Rights Act of 1993. Human rights activist Prabir Kumar Das had moved the NHRC stating that the computer teacher of the school, who also happened to be the hostel warden, was visiting adult websites in his computer in the hostel and was insisting the inmates of the hostel to watch them along with him.
The teacher was also engaged in unnatural sexual activities with students and the matter was brought to the notice of the school principal, who after an internal inquiry found the allegations to be true. After a police complaint was made, the teacher was arrested and, subsequently, he and four of his colleagues, who tried to protect him, were placed under suspension.
Not satisfied with the action of the Government, Das moved the NHRC seeking adequate compensation to the victim students.