New Delhi:
The pressure is building on Ruchika Girhotra's school to explain why it expelled her in 1990. At the time, Ruchika was 14. She was expelled within a month after being molested by a senior police officer in Haryana. Her friends and family claim that her expulsion was one of the reasons why Ruchika killed herself in December, 1993.
Government officials from the Education Department visited Sacred Heart Convent for the second day in a row on Thursday morning. They say they want to scan the school's records. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in a Chandigarh court has asked for an inquiry into Ruchika's expulsion. (Watch: Education officers visit Ruchika's school)
On Wednesday, Father Thomas Anchanikal, a spokesperson for the school, denied that Ruchika had been expelled under pressure from SPS Rathore, the policeman who molested her. After Ruchika complained against Rathore in 1990, a police inquiry found him guilty. But no action was taken against him. For the next three years, Rathore allegedly used his powerful position to harass Ruchika and her family. Her brother was implicated in cases of theft. Overwhelmed, Ruchika drank poison and committed suicide. (Watch: Ruchika's school denies expelling her under pressure)
Rathore was convicted 19 years after he molested Ruchika to six months in prison - a verdict that outraged India. The government is now working with Ruchika's family to examine whether Rathore can be charged with abetment of suicide, instead of molestation.
On Wednesday, the Home Minister met Ruchika's father. The Law Minister has also expressed his support for more serious charges against Rathore.
Ruchika's friend, Aradhana Parkash, who has been campaigning for justice in the case, told NDTV that after Ruchika was molested, she was quiet and depressed in school and would often burst into tears in class. Aradhana also said that the official reason the school gave for expelling Ruchika was that the Girhotras were late with paying school fees. However, Aradhana says that given Ruchika had been a student here for several years, the school could have warned her family instead of expelling the teenager.
Government officials from the Education Department visited Sacred Heart Convent for the second day in a row on Thursday morning. They say they want to scan the school's records. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in a Chandigarh court has asked for an inquiry into Ruchika's expulsion. (Watch: Education officers visit Ruchika's school)
On Wednesday, Father Thomas Anchanikal, a spokesperson for the school, denied that Ruchika had been expelled under pressure from SPS Rathore, the policeman who molested her. After Ruchika complained against Rathore in 1990, a police inquiry found him guilty. But no action was taken against him. For the next three years, Rathore allegedly used his powerful position to harass Ruchika and her family. Her brother was implicated in cases of theft. Overwhelmed, Ruchika drank poison and committed suicide. (Watch: Ruchika's school denies expelling her under pressure)
Rathore was convicted 19 years after he molested Ruchika to six months in prison - a verdict that outraged India. The government is now working with Ruchika's family to examine whether Rathore can be charged with abetment of suicide, instead of molestation.
On Wednesday, the Home Minister met Ruchika's father. The Law Minister has also expressed his support for more serious charges against Rathore.
Ruchika's friend, Aradhana Parkash, who has been campaigning for justice in the case, told NDTV that after Ruchika was molested, she was quiet and depressed in school and would often burst into tears in class. Aradhana also said that the official reason the school gave for expelling Ruchika was that the Girhotras were late with paying school fees. However, Aradhana says that given Ruchika had been a student here for several years, the school could have warned her family instead of expelling the teenager.
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