1 week ago
NHRC Orders Punjab Inquiries Into Rape Allegation, School Events
The National Human Rights Commission is examining an allegation involving the wife of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The allegation says she asked for Rs 5 crore to make a rape case go away.
The complaint says former judge Justice Ranjit Singh made this allegation.
The NHRC has asked Punjab’s top civil and police officials to investigate and report back within two weeks.
The Commission also sent the matter to a women’s safety division of the central government.
In a separate matter, the NHRC is checking whether all Punjab government schools celebrated Independence Day.
It is especially concerned about schools in rural, remote and border areas.
Officials must explain whether students there had the same chances to participate as students elsewhere.
The NHRC took cognisance of allegations that the Punjab Chief Minister’s wife sought Rs 5 crore to suppress a rape case.
The allegations were attributed in the complaint to former Punjab judge Justice Ranjit Singh.
The NHRC directed Punjab’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to submit an Action Taken Report within two weeks.
The Commission also referred the rape-case allegation to the Women Safety Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Separately, the NHRC sought a detailed report on whether government schools in Punjab’s rural, remote and border areas observed Independence Day equally.
- Who
- The National Human Rights Commission, chaired in this matter by Priyank Kanoongo, Punjab officials, former judge Justice Ranjit Singh and the wife of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann are involved in the allegations and inquiries.
- What
- The NHRC ordered an inquiry into an allegation that the Punjab Chief Minister’s wife sought Rs 5 crore to suppress a rape case, and separately sought a report on Independence Day observance in Punjab government schools.
- Where
- Punjab, with the school inquiry focusing on rural, remote and border areas.
- When
- The rape-case matter was reported on Saturday; a separate school-observance complaint was taken up earlier on August 19, concerning Independence Day on August 15.
- Why
- The NHRC wants to establish whether the rape-case allegation has substance and whether children in geographically remote areas were denied equal opportunities to participate in national celebrations.
Key facts
- Alleged demand
- Rs 5 crore, allegedly sought to suppress a rape case
- Source of allegation
- Former Punjab judge Justice Ranjit Singh, according to the complaint
- NHRC deadline
- Punjab’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police must submit an Action Taken Report within two weeks
- Central referral
- The rape-case matter was forwarded to the Women Safety Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs
- School inquiry
- The NHRC requested district-wise and school-wise details of Independence Day observances
- School report deadline
- Punjab’s Chief Secretary must submit a detailed Action Taken or Compliance Report within four weeks
- Requested school details
- Flag hoisting, National Anthem singing, student participation and reasons for any non-compliance
Sources
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