Cyclist Harassment Case: National Human Rights Commission Sends Notices To Sports Ministry, SAI

The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), days after a woman cyclist accused the chief cycling coach of "inappropriate behaviour" during a training camp in Slovenia, according to a statement on Friday. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which took suo motu cognisance of the matter, sought a detailed report from the ministry's secretary and the SAI director general.

"It is strange to know that instead of reining in the coach, the Sports Authority of India reportedly chose to bring the victim back to India thereby depriving her of training overseas for which she had been selected," the rights panel said in the statement.

It said the right to dignity of the victim has purported to have been violated, considering the fact that a coach and sportsperson have a fiduciary relation, where a coach is reposed with the trust to look after the well-being and welfare of the sportswoman.

The commission has observed that the matter, if true, amounts to human rights violation of the victim sportsperson.

Reportedly, as per SAI, the complainant was immediately brought back to India mid way her training to ensure her safety. The SAI has prima facie found the allegation as true, it said.

The commission sought to know the status of physical as well as mental health of the victim, as well as action, if any, taken against the responsible officer, including the coach concerned, within four weeks. The commission would also like to know whether any specialised counselling has been provided to her by the authorities, it said.

The SAI on Wednesday had terminated the contract of the chief cycling coach after a preliminary enquiry found