Two other teachers have been suspended, the panel said. (representative)
New Delhi:
The NHRC has notified the government of Uttar Pradesh and the police chief about reports that an instructor allegedly sexually exploited student girls at a government school in Shahjahanpur district, officials said on Wednesday.
Reportedly, 13 students aged between 12 and 16 had allegedly been subjected to sexual exploitation by the computer science instructor until the matter was brought to the attention of police by parents and he was arrested, the National Human Rights Commission said in a statement.
The NHRC said it suo motu has taken note of the media report. Two other teachers have been suspended who “took no action” despite being aware of the incident. The incident reportedly damaged girls’ confidence, the rights panel said.
The Commission noted that the content of the media report, if true, amounts to a violation of the human rights of the victim students.
Accordingly, it has notified the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police in Uttar Pradesh of the request to issue a detailed report within six weeks, including action taken against the perpetrators and the current status of the investigation, advice and legal help to the police. victims, the statement said.
The Commission would like to know the status of the compensation paid so far to the victims or families, and whether any counseling has been provided after the incident to the girls students who are said to be “afraid and hesitant to go to school “.
The state government is also expected to ensure that all schools under their jurisdiction are given proper guidance to ensure that there is no delay or attempt to disclose the facts of an untoward incident on the part of the school authorities to the police. so that the perpetrators are caught without any delay, it said.
In another case, the NHRC said suo motu took note of a media report that some prisoners housed in Bathinda Central Jail were on hunger strike demanding better facilities and has requested a report from the Chief Secretary and Director General of prisons of Punjab.
The inmates’ demands include an increase in the number and length of calls to their families and lawyers in accordance with the prison handbook, according to a statement from the NHRC.
Such a strike by the inmates is reportedly not new for this prison, as some inmates had also gone on hunger strike in 2021 over perceived poor food quality, it said.
The Commission has found that the content of the media report, if true, raises serious concerns about the basic human rights of the detainees, as permitted by law.
Accordingly, it has notified the Chief Secretary and Director General of Punjab Prisons with a request to prepare a detailed report within four weeks.
The reports must include the steps taken or proposed as per the Model Prison Manual, 2016. Apart from this, the Commission has also asked its Special Rapporteur, Mahesh Singla, to inspect Bathinda Central Prison and submit a report at the earliest. it said.
According to the May 15 media report, the inmates have also demanded facilities to go outside the barracks for walks and the smooth top-up of their canteen cards, which are currently experiencing difficulties.
They ask for televisions to be installed in their barracks for entertainment.
About 15 days ago, these prisoners had also gone on a hunger strike, but called it off after assurances were given by prison authorities that they would investigate their demands, the statement said.
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