NHRC directs HRD ministry to pay damages to molested students

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the secretary of Union HRD ministry to pay compensation of Rs 1 lakh to each of the 13 students of Nayagarh-based Navodaya Vidyalaya who were allegedly subjected to sexual exploitations by one of their school teachers.

The rights body had earlier directed the Odisha government to pay the damages to the students. But when it was informed that the school was run by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Committee under the purview of Union HRD ministry, the NHRC modified the order this week, said human rights activist Prabir Kumar Das.

Das, who had approached the NHRC seeking compensation to the sexually exploited students, also informed that the Union HRD secretary has been directed to send a proof of the payments to the NHRC within eight weeks.

Das had told the NHRC that a computer teacher of the school, who also happens to be the hostel warden, was browsing adult websites on his computer and was insisting the inmates of the hostel to watch the same with him.

The teacher was also engaged in unnatural sexual activities with the students and the matter was brought to the notice of the school principal, who after an internal enquiry found the allegations to be true.
After a police complaint was made, the teacher was arrested and subsequently the concerned teacher and four of his colleagues, who tried to protect the accused teacher, were also suspended.