What a regressive mentality!
It can only be described as an exhibition of the most decrepit mind of the authorities of a high school in Habiganj that have barred a young girl from taking her final exams. Her fault – she may be the victim of rape and the school committee have pinned the blame entirely on her, casting aspersion on her character. This reinforces the common perception prevalent in the country that it is the victim who is responsible for being sexually assaulted.
The school authorities have our fullest contempt. What right do they have to not only accuse her of bad reputation but indirectly blame her for her plight? It is the fundamental right of any girl to seek education. And not only has she been denied that, the minimum of sensitivity that a victim of rape deserves and which is often missing in our society has been denied her also. To think that the school authorities, which we presume are made up of civilised people, should behave in this most despicable manner is beyond our imagination.
We demand that the local administration, including the local education officer, address the matter with urgency. The headmaster must also be held to account for his unacceptable behaviour with regard to a student of his school, whose situation required a more sensitive and humane approach than he has displayed. Although the school authorities eventually allowed the victim to sit for her exams, the question is why did she have to go through such humiliation by them in the first place? In the same vein, the police must do everything to arrest the alleged rapists and bring them to justice along with the person who was complicit in the rape.
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