Rajasthan asked to compensate student who bore teacher's child

The National Human Rights Commission has asked the Rajasthan government to pay an interim compensation of Rs 100,000 to a minor student who bore her teacher's son. The teacher is accused of raping and blackmailing his students into silence.

The Commission directed the state government to recover the amount from Shankar Singh, who allegedly raped several girls during his posting in different schools. NHRC sources said the Commission had recommended that Singh's prosecution be pursued diligently, vigorously and expeditiously.

Singh, a physical education teacher at the government secondary school in Chatawati village in Chattorgarh district, allegedly raped nine minor girls when he was posted at Rajputana.

There, he used to call the girls of classes VII, VIII and IX after school hours for dress rehearsals and music practice for special functions. Later, he would ask one girl to stay behind, and rape her later. None of the girls lodged any complaint.

Singh was transferred to Chatawati in July last year. He continued with his practice, resulting in three girls becoming pregnant. Two opted for abortion; the father of the third girl lodged a complaint at the police station.

When Singh learnt of the complaint, he fled, but was arrested later. Allegations made by several other girls are being investigated. Meanwhile, as the news spread, the villagers stopped sending their girls to the school.

The NHRC has taken cognisance of the case following complaints from a Delhi-based non-governmental organisation, Sakshi. Under the NHRC's directions, an investigation team, consisting of Deputy Superintendent of Police K H C Rao and Inspector K K Arora, investigated the case.

The detectives said Singh, who was in charge of sports and cultural activities at the school, sent his wife to her home in July last year and started living in the games room. He used to call the girls to the games room for rehearsals. Sakshi identified eight other girls whom this teacher allegedly raped. But the girls and their parents flatly denied the allegations. Singh, it is alleged, bought each family's silence by paying them substantial sums of money.