Rajasthan: Reported auctioning of minor girls on stamp papers; RSCPCR chairperson Sangeeta Beniwal details action taken

Bhilwara (Rajasthan): Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson Sangeeta Beniwal on Thursday condemned the Bhilwara incident and said that suo-moto cognizance was taken immediately. "We condemn the Bhilwara incident, and immediately took suo-moto cognizance. Notice was issued to Bhilwara DM and SP to submit a detailed report in 3 days," she said.

Notice to Rajasthan government
Earlier, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) served notice to the Government of Rajasthan on the reported auctioning of girls on stamp papers and the refusal thereof resulting in the rape of their mothers to settle disputes on the diktats of Caste Panchayats in the State. NHRC, India has taken suo moto cognizance of a media report, said a press release.

Minor girls auctioned to settle financial disputes
Reportedly, whenever there is a dispute between the two parties particularly involving financial transactions and loans etc, the girls aged between 8-18 are auctioned to recover money, added the press release.

Human trafficking, sexual assault, slavery
These girls are being sent to UP, MP, Mumbai, Delhi, and even foreign countries and subjected to physical abuse, torture, and sexual assault in slavery. The media reports have documented the ordeal of many victims of such horrendous crimes, as per the statement.

If reports true, human rights violations of victims: Commission
The Commission observed that the contents of the media report, if true, amount to human rights violations of the victims of such abominable practice.

Detailed report sought
Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan calling for a detailed report on the matter, along with an action taken report, qua measures already taken and if not, proposed to be taken to prevent such gory incidents.

Need to reign in Gram Panchayats flouting law
The Report must also contain how the State Government is ensuring the functions of the Gram Panchayat, as per the constitutional provisions or Panchayati Raj Law to eradicate the caste-based system impinging the human rights and the right to dignity of girls and women in the State.

Notice to Director General of Police
A notice has also been issued to the Director General of Police, Rajasthan to submit a detailed report mentioning the initiation of criminal prosecution against the perpetrators of such crime and their abettors

Punish public servants for turning a blind eye to this crime
The report must also mention steps being taken or proposed to be taken against the public servant(s), who purported to have neglected perpetually prevention of such incidents. The response from both the Chief Secretary and DGP is excepted within four weeks.

The Commission, in the meanwhile, has also asked its Special Rapporteur, Umesh Kumar Sharma to visit and inspect the affected areas, within the State of Rajasthan, and submit a comprehensive report on the incidents noted and the prevailing practice in the area, at the earliest, preferably, not later than three months.

According to the media report, carried out on October 26, 2022, the Caste Panchayats in Rajasthan are committing this crime like in Syria and Iraq where the girls are enslaved.

If girls not sold, mothers ordered to be raped
Reportedly, in Bhilwada, whenever there is any dispute between the two parties, they instead of going to the police, approach the Caste Panchayats for its settlement. It becomes the starting point of making the girls slave, if they are not sold, their mothers are ordered to be raped. The news report further reveals that in order to pay off Rs. 15 lakh debt a Caste Panchayat forced a man to sell his sister first and even after this when the debt was not cleared, he was forced to sell his 12-year-old daughter. The buyer purchased the girl for Rs. 8 lakh. After that, all five sisters became slaves but still their father could not pay off his debt.

In another incident a man was forced to sell his house and further take a loan of Rs. 6 lakh for the treatment of his wife, who later died, he took Rs. 6 lakh more for the treatment of his mother. In order to settle the loan, he sold his small daughter for Rs. 6 lakh to some people, who took her to Agra. She was sold three times and became pregnant four times.

(with ANI inputs)