NHRC issues notice to WB Govt. after HIV-positive boy barred from school

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that a private school in Bishnupur area of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal banned an HIV positive student.

According to reports, the school also forced his maternal grandmother, a teacher in the same school, to take a 'purity test' and since then she has been a target to repeated verbal abuse.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim, most importantly, the Right to Education of the seven year old boy. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks.

The Commission has also observed that this is a sad state of affairs. It is the lack of awareness among the people about HIV/HIDS that breeds the stigma, prejudice, fear and the consequent discrimination of the victims.

According to the media report, carried on November, 20, 2015, the seven year old boy upon being tested HIV+, five months ago, was asked to leave the school after the confidential report about his health status was leaked and the parents of several children signed a petition demanding his ouster. Reportedly, both the parents of the child are also HIV positive.