‘Principal won’t be punished, she has done nothing wrong’

Sacred Heart Convent authorities have rejected the magisterial report that indicted them for unfairly expelling Ruchika Girhotra after she was molested by SPS Rathore in 1990. They said “there was no ground for action against anybody”.

“Sr. Sebastina is innocent, she would continue as principal,” Father Thomas, vicar-general and spokesman for the Chandigarh Shimla Diocese, said.

Though the diocese was reviewing the report, Fr Thomas said there was no question of taking action against the principal. “Why would she be punished? She hasn’t done anything wrong. Nobody except Girhotra’s supporters remember the incident. On what basis do they proclaim her guilty? She has been serving the school excellently and would continue to do so,” he said.

Fr Thomas alleged that the principal was being victimised. “No student was singled out. We tell students if they are late in paying fees and as per the principal’s version, supported by the bursar, even Ruchika was informed,” he said.

“As per diocese rules, students are not expelled for non-payment. Ruchika was never expelled. She stopped coming to school and her name was struck off the rolls,” Fr Thomas said.

While inquiry officer SDM Prerna Puri said both things were “two faces of the same coin”, the diocese said voluntary withdrawal led to Ruchika’s name being struck off. The expulsion was a disciplinary step. “No action by a school can stop a child from appearing in the board exam, since students are registered for it in Class IX. If her withdrawal was not voluntary, why did she opt out of the CBSE?” Fr Thomas said.

Ruchika’s father had claimed that school authorities refused to accept fees and the principal called him to say she was expelling Ruchika under pressure from Rathore.

“What proof do these people have? The principal doesn’t remember meeting Girhotra. The fee used to be deposited with the bank. Logically, which bank would refuse to deposit money [fees]?” he said.