Cuttack, Dec. 26: The National Human Rights Commission has awarded compensation of Rs 1 lakh for each of the 13 students, who were victims of sexual abuse by the headmaster.

The commission recommended the monetary relief to the victims of a residential school in the state on a petition filed by a human rights activist and advocate.

It also endorsed his contention that the students were victims of human rights violation in an educational institution.

“The commission has asked the state government to pay a sum of Rs 1,00,000 to each of the 13 victim students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Nayagarh district,” advocate-petitioner Prabir Kumar Das said today.

“The commission, in its order on December 17, expected the chief secretary to send the proof of payment within eight weeks,” Das said.

The petition said the sexual abuse of the students by the headmaster came to light after angry guardians had brought it to the notice of the Nayagarh collector on September 20, 2013.

The state government is liable to pay the compensation as the victim students were sexually abused when they were in the custody and care of the state.

More so sexual abuse by the teacher amounted to violation of human rights of the students, the petitioner had contended.