Haryana Police Lodge FIR Against Suspended Government Girls' School Principal Over Sexual Harassment Allegations

Haryana Police has lodged an FIR against the suspended principal of Government Girls' School over sexual harassment allegations.

The school principal was suspended by the Haryana government on October 27. (Representative Image))

Source : Haryana Police

Chandigarh: Haryana Police has filed an FIR against the Government Girls' School Principal in Jind District following suspension over alleged sexual harassment of Students, as reported by PTI. Authorities confirmed the registration of a case against the principal on Monday, invoking Sections 354-A (sexual harassment), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code, along with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, as relayed by the SHO of the concerned police station during a telephone conversation on Tuesday.

Officials in the Jind district administration had earlier said the school principal was suspended by the Haryana government on October 27. Besides, an inquiry committee has been formed to look into the allegations, which is headed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of the area where the school falls, they said.

A group of female students from the school had recently written letters to the Prime Minister's Office and the National Commission for Women, outlining their distressing experiences, according to sources.

Regarding the nature of the allegations made by these female students, Jind Deputy Commissioner Mohd Imran Raza had disclosed on Sunday that they accused the principal of engaging in "indecent acts" with them.

The accused principal had purportedly installed a tinted door on his office.

According to sources, the girls, in their letters to the PMO and NCW, claimed that the accused principal would summon them to his office and engage in inappropriate actions. Furthermore, the principal allegedly used the threat of failing them in practical exams as a means of blackmail, should they disclose the matter to anyone.

The victims expressed their willingness to disclose all the details concerning the principal if higher authorities from Delhi or Chandigarh would visit them, as they preferred not to involve local teachers or staff members in the process, as per the sources.