Bangalore:
High school students of Swami Vivekananda Vidyalaya in Bangalore were allegedly sexually harassed by a language teacher for the past two years. And a complaint was recently filed with the State Woman and Child Commission.
Based on the information, a team of officials led by Chairperson Nina Nayak visited the school on Thursday and conducted an inquiry.
The girls alleged that the teacher would often ask them to stay back after school hours, touch them inappropriately and pass comments.
"Preliminary inquiry revealed that the allegation made in the complaint seems to be true," Naik told MiD DAY, adding that the commission has summoned the school authorities and the accused teacher to appear before it.
When the matter was brought to the notice of the school authorities, they immediately shifted the accused teacher to a non-teaching job, till the inquiry is completed.
"We could not take strict action, as no student who has been harassed is willing to file an FIR fearing the long judicial proceedings," said an officer in the commission.
The commission received a letter few days ago alleging that Rathod, a Hindi teacher with the school, has been sexually harassing female students.
The students said this was happening for the past two years and they didn't inform their parents because of humiliation.
Mamtha, a member of the commission, said, "A Std VIII student said that she had asked the teacher not to touch her. But Rathod beat her up and left her knuckles injured and also gave her poor marks. After this, even the girl kept quiet as she could hardly do anything."
The commission has recorded statements, and an investigation is on. However, Shankar, the school principal, said he had never come across any such complaints. Another lady teacher, who did not want to be named, said some of the girls had indicated it, but they didn't know the matter was so serious.
"We are looking at legal issues and at the most we can summon the teacher. As per the law, unless a student comes forward and registers an FIR, it cannot be taken further. But once a case is registered, the victim has to share the experience with the police, judiciary, which would continue for a long time, and that is why they avoid coming forward," said Mamtha.
She added, "The most we can do is to relocate the teacher to a non-teaching profession. Since he is an aided teacher, we cannot take his job and can't transfer him, as he may continue doing the same."
The commission now plans to empower children by setting up a complaint box, which would be reviewed by the teachers.
Based on the information, a team of officials led by Chairperson Nina Nayak visited the school on Thursday and conducted an inquiry.
The girls alleged that the teacher would often ask them to stay back after school hours, touch them inappropriately and pass comments.
"Preliminary inquiry revealed that the allegation made in the complaint seems to be true," Naik told MiD DAY, adding that the commission has summoned the school authorities and the accused teacher to appear before it.
When the matter was brought to the notice of the school authorities, they immediately shifted the accused teacher to a non-teaching job, till the inquiry is completed.
"We could not take strict action, as no student who has been harassed is willing to file an FIR fearing the long judicial proceedings," said an officer in the commission.
The commission received a letter few days ago alleging that Rathod, a Hindi teacher with the school, has been sexually harassing female students.
The students said this was happening for the past two years and they didn't inform their parents because of humiliation.
Mamtha, a member of the commission, said, "A Std VIII student said that she had asked the teacher not to touch her. But Rathod beat her up and left her knuckles injured and also gave her poor marks. After this, even the girl kept quiet as she could hardly do anything."
The commission has recorded statements, and an investigation is on. However, Shankar, the school principal, said he had never come across any such complaints. Another lady teacher, who did not want to be named, said some of the girls had indicated it, but they didn't know the matter was so serious.
"We are looking at legal issues and at the most we can summon the teacher. As per the law, unless a student comes forward and registers an FIR, it cannot be taken further. But once a case is registered, the victim has to share the experience with the police, judiciary, which would continue for a long time, and that is why they avoid coming forward," said Mamtha.
She added, "The most we can do is to relocate the teacher to a non-teaching profession. Since he is an aided teacher, we cannot take his job and can't transfer him, as he may continue doing the same."
The commission now plans to empower children by setting up a complaint box, which would be reviewed by the teachers.
