India | Posted on Jul 21, 2009 at 07:15pm IST

Virginity test case: NHRC's notice to MP govt

Press Trust Of India

New Delhi: Taking suo motu cognisance of the reports about virginity test conducted on brides during a state-sponsored mass marriage in Madhya Pradesh, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the state government seeking a "factual report" of the incident submitted within four weeks.

The commission issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary on July 17 in this connection taking cognisance of the matter and called for a factual report within four weeks, the Commission said.

The rights body took suo motu cognisance of the matter on the basis of media reports and said, "if true, (it) was a serious issue of violation of human rights".

"The report alleged that 151 girls who participated in a mass wedding conducted by the Madhya Pradesh government at Shahdol on June 26 were forced to undergo virginity tests, the rights panel noted.

"The mass wedding is a part of a welfare measure under the Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojna, started by the state in April 2006," it observed.

The media report also claimed that a gynecologist had examined the women, the rights panel added.

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