New Delhi:
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Prerna Puri, the inquiry officer examining the role of the school in the Ruchika Girhotra case and also looking into reasons why Ruchika's name was struck off the rolls, has submitted her report to the Chandigarh Home Secretary Ram Niwas.
A month after 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra was molested by a senior police officer, she was expelled by her school, the Sacred Heart Convent in Chandigarh. It shamed and depressed her, and Ruchika's family believes that it's one of the reasons why she committed suicide three years later in 1993.
Was the school pressured by the policeman who molested Ruchika? The report submitted on Thursday is expected to answer that question. The Home Secretary had said on Wednesday that it would be made public today.
The school has denied allegations that it acted on the instructions of SPS Rathore, the Inspector General who molested Ruchika. Instead, spokespersons for the school say that Ruchika had not paid her school fees for several months.
Ruchika's father, Subhash Girhotra, says he was not given any warnings about his daughter's overdue fees.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the High Court asks, among other things, that the government investigate Ruchika's expulsion. The PIL is motivated by what India is incensed by - the obvious influence that Rathore exerted to punish Ruchika for complaining about him, and to protect himself from any action. The High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Centre, state and Rathore on the PIL.
After Ruchika was expelled, her family says it continued to be harassed by the police. Her brother, Ashu, was framed for theft and sent to jail. In a police complaint, Ashu says Rathore used to torture him in prison. After Ruchika's death, Ashu was acquitted and released. The Girhotras left Chandigarh.
Rathore went on to enjoy several promotions, retiring in 2002 as Haryana's police chief.
Ruchika's family and friends won a major battle in their 16-year crusade for justice when the police formally accused Rathore of driving Ruchika to her suicide. If convicted, Rathore faces upto 10 years in prison.
A month after 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra was molested by a senior police officer, she was expelled by her school, the Sacred Heart Convent in Chandigarh. It shamed and depressed her, and Ruchika's family believes that it's one of the reasons why she committed suicide three years later in 1993.
Was the school pressured by the policeman who molested Ruchika? The report submitted on Thursday is expected to answer that question. The Home Secretary had said on Wednesday that it would be made public today.
The school has denied allegations that it acted on the instructions of SPS Rathore, the Inspector General who molested Ruchika. Instead, spokespersons for the school say that Ruchika had not paid her school fees for several months.
Ruchika's father, Subhash Girhotra, says he was not given any warnings about his daughter's overdue fees.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the High Court asks, among other things, that the government investigate Ruchika's expulsion. The PIL is motivated by what India is incensed by - the obvious influence that Rathore exerted to punish Ruchika for complaining about him, and to protect himself from any action. The High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Centre, state and Rathore on the PIL.
After Ruchika was expelled, her family says it continued to be harassed by the police. Her brother, Ashu, was framed for theft and sent to jail. In a police complaint, Ashu says Rathore used to torture him in prison. After Ruchika's death, Ashu was acquitted and released. The Girhotras left Chandigarh.
Rathore went on to enjoy several promotions, retiring in 2002 as Haryana's police chief.
Ruchika's family and friends won a major battle in their 16-year crusade for justice when the police formally accused Rathore of driving Ruchika to her suicide. If convicted, Rathore faces upto 10 years in prison.
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