Ruchika’s principal returns state award

CHANDIGARH - Four days after a magisterial inquiry held the Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School here guilty of being unfair in expelling teenage molestation victim Ruchika Girhotra for fee default, the school principal S. Sebestina Monday returned the state award.

The Chandigarh administration had directed her to return the award, which was given to her in 2005 for meritorious contribution to city education. She was the principal of the school in 1990, when Ruchika was expelled.

“One of the school representatives has returned the prize money, commendation certificate and medal to the concerned authority here this (Monday) evening,” Chanchal Singh, district education officer, Chandigarh, told IANS.

The leading girls school of Chandigarh, which is governed by the Chandigarh-Shimla diocese, was held guilty of expelling Ruchika in September 1990, one month after she was molested by former Haryana director general of police S.P.S. Rathore.

Sub-divisional magistrate Prerna Puri had submitted the inquiry report to the concerned officials last week.

“The magisterial probe ordered by the administration was very biased and they did not consider the proofs submitted by us. Their conclusion is totally baseless and they did not possess even a single proof against the school authorities,” father Thomas Anchanikal, vicar-general and spokesperson for the Chandigarh-Shimla diocese, told IANS Monday.

He added, “However, we do not work for awards and recognitions and sister Sebestina would continue to impart her services to the institution as usual.”