NHRC notice to Haryana Chief Secretary and DGP.
New Delhi, 17th May, 2013
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that 6 Village Panchayats of Mahendergarh District in Haryana unanimously decided not to send girls to schools from 13th May, 2013, owing to alleged inaction by police and school authorities in ensuring their safety. The names of Villages are Pal, Gadania, Kherki, Nihalawas, Kuksi and Palah. Reportedly, the decision was to affect 400 girls students.
The Panchayat Members expressed deep concern over the safety and security of the girls in the wake of increasing instances of sexual harassment. The media report also mentioned two specific incidents of harassment of teenaged girls in the recent past. The neighbouring District Rewari had also witnessed a similar situation a few months ago when around 50 girls were stopped from attending schools.
The Commission has observed that the content of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the girl students. Notices have been issued to the Chief Secretary and DGP, Haryana calling for reports within four weeks.
They have also been directed to inform the Commission of the details of incidents of sexual harassment of teenaged girls that might have taken place in Haryana during the last 3 months and, particularly, in the 6 Villages referred to in the press report alongwith the preventive action, if any, taken by the Administration in this regard.
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