The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gajapati district to furnish an Action Taken Report (ATR) over the death of a pregnant Dailt girl student on April 6.
The apex rights panel passed the order and sought for ATR within four weeks on a petition filed by lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy.
A minor Dalit girl, who was studying in Class 8 of government-run Jhirjira Ashram, a residential school, died on account of medical negligence on 6 April 2023 while undergoing treatment at the District Headquarter Hospital.
At the time of her death she was four months pregnant. The school authorities did not inform the parents about her pregnancy, allge dthe petitioner.
The petitioner sought NHRC intervention for legal action against the wrong doers, compensation to the family of the deceased. He also demanded proper counseling, mental care, regular medical checkup and proper education in the State-run residential schools for scheduled caste and scheduled tribe children.
The NHRC also forwarded the copy of the petition to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police of Odisha for information and further action.
