Annual Report 2008-2009 4.93 The Commission considered the report submitted by the Investigation Division team and directed that a copy of the same be sent to the Government of Karnataka for taking appropriate action. The Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka was further directed to send the action taken report to the NHRC. g) Violation of Rights of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes 19. Suicide by a 3rd Year Dalit Student due to Torture by Head of Pathology Department, Medical College, Jhansi (Case No. 20640/24/2003-2004) 4.94 The NHRC received a complaint from one Harish Chandra Verma, alleging that his son, a 3rd year student of Medical College, Jhansi committed suicide due to torture inflicted upon him by one Dr. B. K. Sharma, Head of Pathology Department, Medical College, Jhansi. He prayed to the Commission for suitable action against Dr. B.K. Sharma. 4.95 A report received from the Special Secretary to the Government of Uttar Pradesh revealed that Dr. B.K. Sharma was guilty. The Commission issued a notice u/s 18 (a) (i) of the PHRA to the Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh, to show-cause as to why it should not grant monetary relief to the next of kin of the deceased. The Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh was also directed to submit the status of the action taken against the accused Dr. B.K. Sharma. 4.96 The Special Secretary, Medical Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh forwarded a report that departmental enquiry had been recommended against Dr. B.K. Sharma. However, response to show-cause notice is still awaited from the State Government. The matter is under consideration of the NHRC. h) Atrocities on Women and Children 20. Sexual Exploitation of a Helpless Woman by a Police Officer in Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh (Case No. 284/1/2004-2005) 4.97 Gangavalli Pushpakumari became a victim of lust of a police officer in Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh. Unable to bear the trauma, she set herself ablaze and died. She made a dying declaration implicating the delinquent police officer. A criminal case was registered and after completion of investigation a charge sheet was also submitted in the court. 4.98 The Commission issued a show-cause notice under section 18 of the PHRA to the State Government. The State Government, on its part, pleaded with the Commission to await the outcome of criminal trial before recommending any kind of monetary relief. The plea of the State Government was rejected by the Commission on the grounds that if a police officer abuses his position to sexually exploit a helpless woman, the matter has to be dealt with a sense of urgency and the relief cannot be withheld merely because the criminal trial of the delinquent police officer was pending. It thus recommended that the State must pay Rs. 5, 00,000 as monetary relief to the family of the deceased. 43