The sexual assault of two young girls at a kindergarten in Badlapur, Thane district, Maharashtra, on Thursday outraged the Bombay High Court. The court took suo moto cognizance of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) related to the incident.
The Bombay High Court bench’s Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan questioned the fundamental goal of the right to education if schools aren’t secure places for kids to learn.
Concerns Raised by the Court:
The court brought attention to the excessive amount of time that the local police took to file a First Information Report (FIR) despite the parents of the girl’s complaints. This delay was reminiscent of something that happened in Kolkata earlier this month.
The court highlighted the possible legal consequences for the failure to take action by the school administration. School administrators who neglect to report sexual offenses can face consequences under POCSO.
The court asked about the victims’ access to counselling for the physical and psychological trauma they had experienced.
The Badlapur police’s investigation drew criticism from the court. Questioned the investigation’s thoroughness and the justification for not providing the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Which was assigned to the matter, with important documents.
The court demanded a detailed timeline of the investigation. Including the formation date of the SIT and an explanation for the missing documents. The Bombay High Court’s strong stance on child safety in schools reflects a growing national concern. This reflects a growing national concern about ensuring child safety in educational institutions.
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