The National Human Rights Commission
has recommended that the Government of Odisha pay Rs.5 lakh as an interim
relief to the next of kin of a lady school teacher, who died after she was
assaulted and set ablaze in Rayagada district, when she refused to withdraw her
complaint against a School Inspector for sexual harassment. The incident happened at the school hostel in
Kashipur Block of the district. The
Commission has also asked the State government, through its Chief Secretary, to
get the entire matter enquired by the CBCID.
An action taken report has been called within six weeks.
The Commission had received a complaint from a local NGO about her ordeal while she was struggling for her life in a hospital. A notice had been issued on the 6th November, 2013 to the Director General of Police, Odisha and Secretary, Department of School Education, Government of Odisha, calling for a report in the matter within six weeks. However, on the 7th November, 2013, the Commission received another communication from the same NGO about her death. The complainant has alleged that the concerned authorities had taken no action against her senior despite several complaints made to them by her. She had joined the school on the 18th June, 2011 as a contractual teacher and ever since then was being sexually harassed by the School Inspector. Her family members have alleged that the accused were enjoying political patronage. He also informed that the accused School Inspector and District Inspector of Schools have since been suspended. The Commission has also obtained the copies of the orders of dismissal of two police personnel of the Tikri Police Station issued by the State government. The Commission, after consideration of the material on record, has observed that the victim lady had approached all possible channels but no efforts were made by the State authorities to address her grievances and to save her life and hence, in these circumstances, it has recommended the interim relief and enquiry by CBCID in the matter. |