New Delhi, October 26
The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the
Haryana Government on a complaint by the All-India Women Association
(AIWA) in the Sonia-Rampal “gotra” case.
The Sonia case had hit the headlines following the ruling of a panchayat declaring the married couple to live as “brother and sister”.
The NHRC chief, Justice A.S. Anand (retd), has asked the Chief Secretary, the Director-General of Police, the Commissioner of Rohtak and the SSP of Rohtak to submit a report within a week on the steps being to ensure personal safety to Sonia and Rampal.
Ms Brinda Karat of the AIWA in her complaint alleged that Rampal and Sonia, married for two years, are being forced to declare themselves as brother and sister in the name of protection of “gotra”.
She alleged that in spite of repeated representation to the authorities there have been no arrests of those guilty, no cases have been registered and the couple is unable to return to their village to reside.
