Now the number has reached 60.
The Haryana State Commission for Women (HSCW) is also looking into allegations that two girl students may have died of suicide due to sexual assault by the principal.
The scale of alleged sexual assault came to light during the hearing in the Haryana State Commission for Women case held by its president Renu Bhatia at Panchkula on Thursday.
Bhatia, said, “Sixty girls have alleged sexual assault against the principal. We are also dealing with the serious allegations that two girls committed suicide due to the sexual assault of the principal.”
For the hearing in the case, the commission summoned the accused principal, the police officials, including a DSP heading the newly constituted SIT in the case, and officials of the education department.
The accused principal did not join the hearing till the filing of this report.
“It is of grave concern that an accused against whom such serious allegations have been made is yet to be arrested. The commission will take up the matter with the highest government authorities and seek action against the police officials,” Bhatia said.
The commission seriously noted delay in action on the part of the education and police departments.
The committee on the complaint of the girl students directed the police to register a case on September 14.
“But the police department took more than a month to register a case. Similarly, the education department sat on the complaint for more than a month,” said Bhatia.
The education department started working at the end of October, constituted a committee to investigate the issue; and it suspended the principal on October 27.
The police registered an FIR in the case on October 31. The FIR was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (Pocso) Act and Section 354 (assault to outrage the modesty of women) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
A group of students from the school wrote a letter to different authorities including the prime minister’s office, National Commission for Women and HSCW detailing their ordeal. The letter was written on August 31st.
The girls alleged that the principal installed black window panes in his office and used to call any girl student to his office and indulge in obscene acts. According to the complaint, a female teacher was also allegedly involved and sent girls to the principal’s office.
(The identity of the victim has not been released to protect her privacy in accordance with Supreme Court directives regarding cases related to sexual assault.)