CHENNAI: A Class XII girl, who suffered continuous aggravated sexual abuse by her own father since she was seven years old, had to endure humiliation at the hands of a nurse, to whom she had been sent for medical examination.Nurse Koteeshwari, working with the Institute of Social Obstetrics and Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children in Egmore, asked the survivor, "did you enjoy the moment?" She also taunted the girl for levelling sexual abuse allegations against her own father.Now the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has initiated proceedings against the nurse for abusing the Pocso survivor during medical examination.
The issue came to light after a court-appointed volunteer, Kanya Devi, lodged a formal complaint against the nurse with the SHRC.The student, living with her parents and a brother in Kodambakkam, was being exploited sexually by her father since she was seven years old.
Though her mother was aware of it she didn't take the issue seriously.
In 2022, the mother died of cancer, leaving the child more vulnerable than ever.
When she informed her plight to her brother, a college student now, he sent her to live with their grandparents in Vellore.
He supported her and, on her behalf, complained to T Nagar all-women police station on August 15.
Subsequently, their father was arrested and sent to jail under the Pocso Act.However, the minor did not cooperate with investigation officers, as she was reluctant to reveal details and sequence of incidents.
At one stage, the traumatised girl informed the judge that she didn't want to pursue her case as everyone was accusing her.
This prompted the special court for Pocso Act cases to appoint Kanya Devi, co-director of a service organisation, AIMS, as a supporting person to the girl.In the meanwhile, the survivor was sent to the government medical facility in Egmore for medical examination.
It was there the nurse asked inappropriate questions and even taunted her.In her complaint to the SHRC, Kanya Devi demanded legal action against nurse Kotteeshwari and also sought a compensation of 10 lakh for the survivor.
The SHRC took up the case on file on Friday.(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)