Jind: The principal of a government school, in Jind district, Haryana has been taken into custody after more than 50 female students accused him of harassment. The Haryana State Commission for Women. Urged the police to take action based on the complaints received from students on September 14. However, it was on October 30 that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the matter.
The affected students had submitted written complaints to both the school administration and the government demanding measures against the principal. Despite the Education Department suspending him on October 27, no further steps were taken.
Following the intervention by the Haryana State Commission for Women multiple teams were formed by Jind Police to arrest the accused principal who had been evading capture.
According to Renu Bhatia, Chairperson of the State Commission for Women, they received a total of 60 written complaints from students against this principal. Out of these 50 girls reported instances of abuse by him while 10 others claimed knowledge, about his misconduct.
The victims alleged that he would summon them to his office and engage in behavior.
Bhatia raised concerns regarding the Jind police approach highlighting the absence of action taken between September 14 and October 29 following the complaint.
Additionally, the commission is looking into allegations of negligence, by a District Education Officer who failed to act upon receiving the complaints well as investigating the involvement of a female teacher who purportedly supported the principal.
The Jind district police have registered a case against the principal under Sections 354-A (sexual harassment), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, as reported by the SHO of the police station responsible for the school’s jurisdiction.