Probe Role of Convent in Child Molestation Case in India

New Delhi: 28 December,2009 :  Two Christian organisations:  Indian Christian Righteous Action (ICRA) Forum  and Poor Christian’s Liberation Movement (PCLM) have  demanded federal level   inquiry  against the Sacred Heart Convent School for their role in a child molestation case take took place in 19 years ago . “We demand public apology from the Sacred Heart Convent School of Chandigarh  for throwing out Ruchika Girhotra out of the school instead of helping her after she was molested ,” the organisation release stated.

The ICRA Forum president JG Anthony and   PCLM chief RL Francis consider the role of convent as “un Christian act” and a “shameful” as the convent sided with the rich and powerful instead of taking side of justice and protecting a child. The convent shamelessly sided with the powerful official instead of following the teachings of Jesus Christ. ”No amount of explanation can exonerate convent authorities of this crime against child”, the statement further added.

If this kind of behaviour by the convent had taken place in the West there would have been uproar. Why the Catholic Diocese of Chandigarh is observing “criminal silence” in this case.

Will the West keep quite if a catholic institution had behaved in the same manner in America or Europe?

Fourteen year old Ruckika Girhotra, a student of Sacred Heart Convent, was molested by a senior rank police official Mr. Rathore in uniform in 1990. The Covent instead of taking up Ruchika’s case threw out of the school in the same year. Unable to bear the pain and agony Ruchika committed suicide three years later 1993.

Now after 19 years the judgement comes  with  only six months imprisonment and  fine of merely 20 ( twenty ) US $.

What a shame for Indian judiciary.

As a Christian we feel ashamed that a Catholic institution, which is suppose to be a custodian and champion of human rights, sided with the perpetrator and did not help the child victim.

Both ICRA Forum and PCLM urge the campaigner seeking justice for Ruchika to held school also ‘responsible’ for the suicide by Ruchica and include their name in the case.

Responses