NCPCR notice to Tamil Nadu after report of 'virginity test' on minor girls

CUDDALORE: The National commission for protection of child rights has taken suo motu cognizance of the webpage report of Opindia on "forced virginity test" on minor daughters of priests of Lord Nataraja temple to defame the priests and directed Tamil Nadu chief secretary V Irai Anbu to inquire into the issue and submit action taken report to the commission within seven days.
Commission chairperson Priyank Kanoongo in a notice to Irai Anbu on May 4 said the panel came across a webpage report of Opindia citing that "the governor of Tamil Nadu, Ravindra Narayana Ravi, exposed the shocking truth about how minor girls were forced to undergo the two-finger test, also known as the virginity test, by the state administration in an effort to defame podhu dikshithars (temple priests) in an explosive interview with TOI".
The commission chairperson said parents were arrested. "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 (governor) revealed and stated that he wrote a letter to CM questioning the horrific ordeal," said Kanoongo, adding that the commission took suo motu cognizance under relevant sections of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.
Kanoongo directed Irai Anbu to inquire into the issue while ensuring nondisclosure of the identity of the victims and submit a factual action taken report within seven days to the commission. The chairperson also directed Irai Anbu to submit copies of FIRs lodged by the social welfare department on child marriages, status of action taken against the accused and parents, follow-up legal action and details on producing minor children before the medical officers and the chief welfare committee.