Some 3,000 people from various religions have joined Catholics to express solidarity with Chandigarh’s Sacred Heart School and its principal Sister S. Sebastina.

Chandigarh Catholic Association recently held a prayer meeting at the Christ the King Cathedral and launched a signature campaign to support Sister Sebastina and the school.

The Catholic school was involved in controversy after an investigation by the Chandigarh administration found it had arbitrarily expelled a student 19 years ago.

The girl, Ruchika Girhotra, who was molested by a senior police officer before her alleged expulsion, committed suicide three years later.

The girl’s family claim the police officer, S. Rathore, then director general of police in Haryana state, put pressure on the school to throw her out.

An official probe found on Jan. 7 that there had been pressure to expel Girhotra, but the school, Simla Chandigarh diocese and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) all reject the report’s findings.

Vicar General Father Thomas Anchanikal told UCA News that Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs had assured the school and its administration of their support.

The priest said the Catholic association received some 3,000 signatures on the first day of the campaign. “It is a good response,” he stated.

A prominent political party, Shiromani Akali Dal, has promised to back the school, Father Anchanikal said.

Students from Sacred Heart School also joined the prayer meeting. Prayers were offered for Girhotra also.

The issue has been a hot topic on the alumni’s Facebook page.

Source:  Thousands rally to back Chandigarh school (UCAN)

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