By Pramod Madhav: A day after Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi claimed that banned virginity tests were still being conducted in the state, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) took suo moto cognizance of the matter and demanded a probe into the matter.
Ravi said out of vengeance, government officials of the social welfare department lodged eight complaints of child marriage against the Podhu Dikshithars (hereditary priests and custodians of Sri Sabanayagar Temple, popularly known as Lord Nataraja Temple). The police said that they (Podhu Dikshithars) were marrying underage children, whereas there were no such marriages. “Parents were arrested and put behind bars. And the girls, sixth and seventh standard students, were forcibly taken from home to the hospitals and made to undergo ‘two-finger tests, virginity tests. Some of them tried to commit suicide, he revealed and stated that he wrote a letter to the chief minister questioning the horrific ordeal,” he said.
ALSO READ | Dravidian governance model is a hit: Tamil Nadu CM on Guv’s ‘DMK’s ideology is dead’ remark
Chandrashekhar, the legal counsel who handled the case for Podhu Dikshitars, told India Today, “Tamil Nadu Police filed cases against several Dikshitars in February 2022.” He added that the temple administration did not encourage such practices. “Temple administration only allows those above 21 to conduct Chandramouleshwara puja. But the opposite parties who were against the temple administration have been making a false campaign that we are encouraging child marriage,” stated Chandrashekhar.
ALSO READ | Who’s Governor working for? DMK mouthpiece slams RN Ravi over online gambling bill
Speaking on the two-finger virginity test, Chandrashekhar said the case was filed under sections 16 and 17 of the Child Marriage Prohibition Act with a maximum punishment of two years and there was no need for an arrest. “In these cases, the Dikshitars were arrested and several examinations were conducted on the children, which was banned by Supreme Court and Madras High Court. Specifically, in one instance, Tamil Nadu Police exceeded and violated the law laid down by the Supreme Court and also by the High Court and conducted two-finger test on a victim, which was not necessary for this particular offence, and alleged that police did so to convert the case and bring it under POCSO,” he said, alleging human rights violation.
ALSO READ | DMK’s ‘dictator Ravi’ swipe at Tamil Nadu Governor over Sterlite remarks
However, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) spokesperson Saravanan said that Governor Ravi should produce evidence instead of making such allegations. “He can’t make mere allegations. It should be coupled with proof. You can’t throw muck around and walk away. We have this concept called the bully pulpit, which means using the office to send a message and that is what he is doing. He is standing in the pulpit and bullying everybody,” said Saravanan.
The NCPCR has also sought a report from the Chief Secretary and given him seven days to file a report on the actions taken.
