Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports on the alleged stripping of 88 girl students as punishment in a school in Arunachal Pradesh, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday, 1 December, issued a notice to the state government and HRD ministry.
The incident took place on 23 November when three teachers of a girl’s school in Arunachal Pradesh allegedly forced 88 students to undress as punishment for writing vulgar words against the head teacher.
A total of 88 students of Class VI and VII of the school were subjected to the humiliating treatment, police said.
The state education department has ordered the suspension of a junior teacher and sought the termination of services of two assistant teachers, who were allegedly involved in the November 23 incident at the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya at Tani Happa (New Sagalee) in Papum Pare district.
The matter came to light on 27 November after the victims approached the All Sagalee Students Union (ASSU), who then filed an FIR with the local police.
A team of All Papum Pare District Students Union (APPDSU) met the students and teachers on Wednesday, and found that an unidentified student had used vulgar words in a piece of paper mentioning the name of the head teacher and a girl student, a release by APPDSU said.
The teachers demanded an explanation from all the 88 students of Classes VI and VII, who were later made to undress before the other students as punishment, it said.
The NHRC, on Friday, also issued a notice to state Chief Secretary Satya Gopal, asking him to submit a detailed report in the matter within four weeks, including the action taken against the guilty teachers and steps taken for the counselling of the victims.
It also asked the secretary of the Ministry of Human Resources Development to submit within four weeks a copy of the guidelines, which were issued for the protection of students from such maltreatment or humiliation and circulated among the states.
The sordid act of the school teachers, as reported in the media, is indeed inexcusable. Teachers are highly respected in society as they play the role of a true guide and protector for their students. Such an inhuman and insensible act cannot be expected from a teacher.NHRC statement
Stripping of minor girls in front of the entire school was unethical and the teachers, who were their lawful custodians and protectors, had committed a cruel act, the NHRC statement added.
“The right to dignity of the innocent minor girls has been grossly violated and it will definitely take time for them to overcome the trauma,” the statement said.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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