CBSE asked to issue notice to school for expelling Ruchika

With the Chandigarh school indicted by a magisterial inquiry for wrongfully expelling molestation victim Ruchika Girhotra, the government today said CBSE should issue a notice to the school asking it to explain the action.
 
"We have got the report on the issue. On the basis of the report, it appears that notice should be sent to the school by Central Board of Secondary Education," HRD Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters on the sidelines of a conference on Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and other school education programmes.
 
The Sacred Heart Convent in Sector 26, Chandigarh, affiliated with the CBSE, had expelled Ruchika for not paying the fee 19 years ago.
 
14-year-old Ruchika was molested by IPS officer SPS Rathore and was allegedly driven to suicide due to harassment by the former DGP, who also reportedly managed to make the school expel her.
 
The inquiry by the sub-divisional magistrate Prerna Puri had said non-payment of fee in time was not a satisfactory reason for her expulsion. It suggested action against the school and its Principal Sister Sebastina for expelling Ruchika allegedly under pressure from Rathore.
 
Out of 135 students, who had not paid fee, Ruchika was the only student to be expelled.