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PIL to be filed against Ruchika's school
NDTV Correspondent, Monday December 28, 2009, Chandigarh

More and more questions are being raised about why Ruchika was expelled from her school. It's alleged that once again Rathore used his influence to have her removed. This isolated her further and compounded her depression. A PIL will now be moved in the matter.

Ranjan Lakhanpal, Senior Advocate says that they will file a case against everybody involved, including the school.

Ruchika Girhotra studied in Sacred Heart, one of Chandigarh's most prestigious schools. In 1990, she was in Class X when the then Inspector General of Police S P S Rathore molested her. Within weeks after her family filed a complaint, Ruchika was expelled from school.

Her family was told she had paid the fees late. But they were not convinced.

"Rathore used his influence. One day the Principal called me and told that we are removing her from the school. Don't send her to school any more," says Ruchika's father S C Girhotra.

The expulsion isolated Ruchika mentally and contributed to her depression. And most of her classmates knew nothing about it.

"We had heard that she was going abroad and we thought she has gone abroad after the incident, that's why she is not showing up and we had also heard that she had left school, that's it," says Geetanjali Giyatri, Ruchika's classmate and former student at the Sacred Heart School.

The school is keeping mum on why such action was taken against Ruchika, but say off the record that some disciplinary action was taken against her. However, they don't want to elaborate on that.

"We will be seeking action against the school also as to why she was expelled, what were the reasons, and under whose pressure it was done," says Ranjan Lakhanpal, a senior lawyer in Chandigarh.

"I think school should have taken a very responsible role in this case. You see without knowing the facts they were suppressed by the police force. Is that the way schools in our country going to run?" says Kirat Sodhi, a teacher at St Stephen's School, Chandigarh.

Imagine a girl in her mid-teens, molested, expelled from school, harassed and threatened by a supposed law keeper and repeatedly being denied justice. Pushed to the edge, Ruchika committed suicide three years later.
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Tags: expel, molest, Rathore, Ruchika, school
Comments
Posted by Rafiq A Rafiq on Dec 31, 2009
This happens only in India, high claims of progress, growth, democracy. Power toxicated Rathore's are reining in high echons of society. What an alma matar, what a school, what a techer? what principles they must have given to there students? My Salutes to Aradhna & Prakash. He deserves Bharat Ratna not the tainted politicians who have shielded Rathore and will continue to do so for their ills.
Posted by deba on Dec 30, 2009
The iron is hot and everyone is against the school or the pricipal. To be very practical the school is guilty but are you sure that this type of thing will not happen in future? Tell me who are not afraid of police and organised political hooligans, you better know such a polical party is laready in Mumbai seeking any lame excuses to beat and blacken faces of respected teacher and principal. Regards
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