Bosco Dominique,TNN | Jan 3, 2014, 06.24 PM IST

PUDUCHERRY: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has sought a factual report from the Puducherry government on an inquiry into the charges against four government school teachers who had allegedly watched pornography on school premises, forced girl students to watch it and molested them. The report should be submitted by January 10.

In an official communication dated December 26, which was addressed to chief secretary Chetan B Sanghi, commission member secretary Asheem Srivastav recommended the government to ensure that the accused are booked under the relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act 2012. The member secretary sent its copies to Puducherry director general of police P Kamaraj and deputy inspector general of police I D Sukla.

The commission recommended the government to provide adequate security and protection to the girls and to ensure that they are not intimidated by the accused, directly or indirectly. It sought the government to refer the victims for counselling and psycho-social support by competent professionals.

It issued direction to the government following a complaint by a Chennai-based development activist, A Narayanan.

Four government school teachers — Jude Anbalagan, Siva Kumar and Abdul Malik (all three are trained graduate teachers) and physical education teacher Abdul Rasheed — of Thiru Vi Ka government high school, Arumparthapuram, Puducherry, allegedly watched pornography on school computers. They also allegedly forced some girl students to watch it and molested them.

The issue came to light when a girl student of the government school told her parents that a teacher had forced her to watch pornographic content and molested her. Her parents, members of the parent-teacher association (PTA) of the school and general public picketed the school demanding immediate action against the teachers. Director (school education) E Vallavan held peace talks with them assuring immediate action against the teachers.

The Puducherry government initially proposed to transfer the teachers as punishment but suspended them following widespread protests by the parent-teacher forums and general public demanding stringent punishment against them. The Child Welfare Committee took cognizance of the offences through telephonic calls made by the PTA members and reports in the media and directed the police on December 4 to initiate action against the four teachers.

The crime branch criminal investigation department booked the teachers under different sections of the Pocso Act and the Information Technology Act after the Child Welfare Committee lodged a complaint. All the four teachers are absconding.
The committee appealed to the victims and her parents to appear before it and lodge formal statements. However, the victims and her parents did not turn up.

The committee sent its probationary officer and protection officer to the school to take up a detailed probe and inspect the computer. However, they were denied permission stating that they needed approval from the director (school education) to undertake a probe.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/puducherry/Child-rights-commission-seeks-report-on-teachers-watching-porn-in-Puducherry-school/articleshow/28343789.cms