TN Guv Alleges 'Virginity Tests' Conducted On Minors In Chidambaram, NCPCR Initiates Proceedings

The Governor in an interview said, the minor girls were reportedly made to undergo the tests by State administration in an effort to defame temple priests.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has taken a suo moto proceedings against the alleged claim of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi that virginity tests were conducted on minors in Chidambaram. The NCPCR also ordered Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Irai Anbu to submit a report in 7 days.

According to Times of India, Commission chairperson Priyank Kanoongo in a notice on May 4 said that the panel came across a report on OpIndia alleging that Tamil Nadu Governor exposed shocking truth about how minor girls were forced to undergo the banned two-finger test, also known as virginity tests. They were reportedly made to undergo the tests by State administration in an effort to defame temple priests. The parents of the minors were also arrested. The girls of Class 6 and 7 were forcibly taken from home to the hospitals to undergo two-finger tests. Due to this, some of them even try to kill themselves. 

The Governor had stated these ordeals and also mentioned that he has written to the CM in this regard in an explosive interview, said Kanoongo, as per the report.

Following this, the Chairperson directed to enquire into the issue and submit a report within 7 days to the Commission. Kanoongo directed to submit FIR copies lodged with the social welfare department on child marriages and details on producing minor children before medical officers.

Kanoongo also directed to ensure that the identity of the survivors is not this closed.

However, soon after the controversy, Tamil Nadu police denied that the two minors, victims of child marriage, were made to undergo the two-finger test.

He said that four cases were registered against the priests after evidence about child marriage.