The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has served a show-cause notice to the Chief Secretary as to why a monetary compensation of `50,000 should not be recommended to be paid to a sexually-harassed schoolgirl in Nuapada district within six weeks.
The notice also stated that the reply should also indicate as to what steps were taken for the counseling of the victim girl, if any.
These proceedings were continuation of the earlier proceedings of the commission dated May 11, 2015.
The substance of the complaint by activist Subash Mohapatra was that a Class IV student of Bendrabahal Prathamik Vidyalaya under Khadial block of Nuapada district was ravished by her own school teacher.
According to the complainant, the victim girl was subjected to sexual assault several times during August 25-31, 2014 by her teacher Drona Sabar. The offender used to come to the school under inebriated condition and he was in the habit of sexually torturing the students.
In the course of the hearing the commission received the report of the School and Mass Education Secretary and Kharihar SDPO which stated that the accused teacher was arrested and chargesheet was also submitted against him.
However, in its latest order recently, the commission directed the Chief Secretary to show-cause under Section 18 (a) (I) of the PHR Act, 1993 as to why a monetary compensation of `50,000 should not be recommended to be paid to the victim’s family within six weeks. The reply should also indicate as to what steps were taken for the counseling of the victim girl, if any.