SC seeks report on Ghaziabad ashram sex scandal

New Delhi, Dec 1 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Commission for Women (NCW) and the District Magistrate (DM) Ghaziabad to submit their responses by December 4,2006 regarding allegations of sexual harassment of female inmates of a Ghaziabad Ashram by its head Swami Balnath.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakker issued the directions when the matter was mentioned on behalf of a private TV channel NDTV Impact alleging that the authorities concerned were dragging their feet on the issue of taking action against the culprit who heads Special School for Spastics and hearing impaired .

Counsel for the TV news channel informed the court that the PIL will be filed on December 2,2006 against the respondents.

The court fixed December 4 as the date of hearing of the matter if filed tomorrow and num bered.

Activists of an NGO called STOP along with CISF personnel went to the Ashram and at least three girls alleged sexual exploitation by Swami Balnath but the district administration told the NGO members that no formal complaint has been lodged either by the victims or by the NDTV who conducted the sting operation to expose the sex scandal.

The local police, however, told the media that lady police personnel have been posted at the Ashram for the protection of the female inmates of the Ashram.

UNI AKS/SC RP VV1735