The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that a computer instructor sexually exploited girl students in a government school in Shahjahanpur district.
It is alleged that 13 students of 12-16 years had become victims of sexual exploitation by the instructor till the matter was brought to the notice of police by the parents, and he was arrested.
Two other teachers were suspended as despite being aware of the sexual exploitation they did not take any action. The incident has reportedly shattered the confidence of the girls.
The NHRC has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, amount to a violation of the human rights of the victim students. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the chief secretary and the director general of police of Uttar Pradesh, calling for a detailed report within six weeks, including action taken against the perpetrators, the current status of the investigation, and the status of the counseling and statutory relief provided to the victim girl students.
The NHRC wants to know the status of the compensation paid to the victims/families so far and whether any counseling has been provided to the girl students who are reportedly scared and hesitant to attend the school, after the incident.
It said the state government was also expected to ensure that proper guidelines were issued to all the schools under their jurisdiction to make sure that there should not be any delay or attempt to conceal the facts of any untoward incident on the part of the school authorities to the police so that the perpetrators in such matters are nabbed without any delay.