3 college staffers suspended in stripping case

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 16

Three women staffers of Shri Sahjanand Girls Institute, Bhuj, have been suspended after 68 students were this week forced to strip in an administrative check about whether they were menstruating. 

The National Commission for Women’s inquiry team set up to probe the shocker from Gujarat today said the suspensions had been confirmed by the college administration which expressed ignorance about any such (bars on menstruating girls) practices at the institute. The team will present its report to the commission for further action.

The NCW probe team further said after speaking with 44 of the 68 affected girls today, they learnt that a prerequisite for admission to this college was that the students had to give their consent not to eat in the dining area while menstruating and not sleep on the beds either.

“Surprisingly, we were informed that the girls did not any have problem with this practice and the only issue was with the way of checking whether the girls are having their periods or not. Also, a register was maintained at the college for the same,” the NCW said today. The inquiry committee comprising Rajul Desai, NCW member and advocate Malshree Gadhvi of the Delhi Legal Services Authority is currently visiting Bhuj.

“A meeting was called to discuss the matter with the institute’s administration. The inquiry team was informed that the administration was unaware of such a practice being followed in the hostel. The three female staffers held responsible have been suspended,” the NCW said.

Desai held legal awareness programmes where she spoke to the girls about 181 women’s helpline and other legal rights of girls.

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