Over 50 Haryana Schoolgirls Accuse Principal Of Sexual Harassment

Multiple Allegations Lead to Legal Action Against School Principal

In Chandigarh, more than 50 female students from a government school in Jind district have come forward to allege sexual harassment by their principal. The Haryana State Commission for Women has expressed concern about the police's slow response to these complaints.

The commission reported that they had forwarded the complaints from a few female students of the school to the police on September 14, but action was only initiated on October 30.

The Haryana police took action on Monday by booking the school principal, who had previously been suspended by the Jind administration due to allegations of sexual harassment involving a few students.

The Jind police have established teams to apprehend the accused. A police official from the district mentioned on Friday that the principal, who is approximately 55 years old, is currently evading arrest.

The State Commission for Women's chairperson, Renu Bhatia, addressed reporters in Panchkula, stating, "We have received 60 written complaints against the principal from the girl students. Out of these, 50 complaints are from girls who reported physical abuse at the hands of the accused. Ten other girls, in their complaints, indicated their awareness of the principal's involvement in such activities." Ms. Bhatia also noted that all the complainants were minors.

The victims have alleged that the accused used to call them to his office and engage in obscene acts, as stated by Renu Bhatia.

Ms. Bhatia criticized the Jind police for their slow response, stating that they received a complaint on September 13 and forwarded it to the police the following day, but there was no action taken until October 29.

Ms. Bhatia mentioned that the girls reached out to them again, and after speaking with the Superintendent of Police, an FIR was finally registered.

Ms. Bhatia questioned the delayed arrest of the accused after the FIR was filed, allowing him to evade capture. Additionally, the commission is investigating a potential lapse by a woman District Education Officer who did not take action upon receiving the complaints.

Ms. Bhatia also mentioned that the commission is investigating the role of a female teacher who allegedly supported the principal. Furthermore, she noted that some girls contacted the commission on Thursday evening, claiming that they had received phone calls from unknown individuals pressuring them to retract their statements.

The commission's chairman called upon the Haryana DGP and Jind Superintendent of Police to ensure the immediate arrest of the accused, emphasizing the need to promptly incarcerate individuals involved in such cases.

Ms. Bhatia noted that the commission has evidence that the principal contacted some of the girls on their phones and attempted to chat with them. She mentioned that he possessed at least three mobile phones not known to his family or anyone else. Additionally, it was alleged that the accused had a tinted door installed in his office at the school, as stated by the police.

Ms. Bhatia mentioned that the principal had a questionable record in previous schools where he was posted. She added that there were complaints of misbehavior with female students against him at two other schools as well.

The Jind district police 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. The school principal had been suspended by the Haryana government on October 27, as confirmed by officials in the Jind district administration.

A group of female students from the school sent letters to the Prime Minister's Office and the National Commission for Women, describing their ordeal. Jind Deputy Commissioner Mohd Imran Raza stated that the allegations involved the principal engaging in "obscene acts" with the students.