New Delhi, October 23rd, 2012

The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that a rape victim along with her two sisters were not being allowed to continue in the school at Khai village in District Fatehabad, Haryana. Issuing notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Haryana, District Magistrate and Director of Education, Fatehabad, the Commission has called for reports in the matter within four weeks.

Reportedly, a 13 year old girl was sexually assaulted by a sexagenarian for over five months. Her father alleged that he was being pressurized to hush-up the matter. He was also asked to withdraw his daughter along with her two sisters from the school. The school authorities had also told him that his daughters could not continue their studies in the school. However, an enquiry conducted by the District Education Officer revealed that school leaving certificates had been issued against a request signed by the father of the victim.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raise the serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim and her family members.


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