The Chandigarh administration has initiated a magisterial inquiry into the expulsion of the teenage girl, who was molested by the former Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) S.P.S. Rathore, from an all-girls school here. The budding tennis player was studying in the tenth class when she was molested in September 1990.
“I received a fax message from Madhu Prakash [complainant in the case] yesterday, demanding a fair probe against the school,” Chandigarh Home Secretary Ram Niwas, who is also the education secretary, said on Tuesday. “I have marked this probe for the sub-divisional magistrate and told her to submit the inquiry report to me within seven days.”
He said it was a very old case and most of the principals and members of the management had changed. “But still we have been able to dig out some circumstantial evidence. We will be able to place whatever material is available on record before the public.”
He said the probe would go into all aspects of this issue and ask the school to explain why the girl was expelled. So far, the school management has been silent on the issue.
Initially the school cited non-payment of monthly fees for the expulsion. However, her father rubbished the claims and alleged that Rathore used his power to get her expelled as the latter’s own daughter was the victim’s school mate.
Senior lawyer and a human rights activist Ranjan Lakhanpal said the “school was equally responsible” for harassing the victim. He has filed a Public Interest Litigation petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court demanding strict action against the school.
