4-Year-Old Accused of Sexual Assault: Dwarka School Chargesheeted

The Nov 2017 case where a 4-year-old was accused of sexually assaulting his classmate sparked a nationwide debate.

The Delhi Police, on 15 January, filed chargesheet against a private school in Delhi’s Dwarka in the case where a four-year-old boy was accused of “sexually assaulting” his classmate within the school premises in November 2017.

The case, where a four-year-old boy allegedly inserted a pencil into the private parts of his classmate in the school washroom, set off a nationwide debate about whether children in this age group comprehend the concept of sexual assault.

What Are the Charges?

The police have named the owner, the Principal, a teacher, and a caretaker of the school in the chargesheet under Sections 21 of POCSO Act and 75 of Juvenile Justice (JJ )Act.

Under Section 75 of JJ Act, a person can be imprisoned to term which may extend to three years.

Whereas, under Section 21 of POCSO Act, a person can be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and with fine.

The lower court is yet to take cognizance of the case. A senior Delhi Police officer told The Quint:

We have filed the chargesheet in the court. Summons will be issued to all accused only after the court take cognizance of the chargesheet. 

Senior Officer, Delhi Police

Child’s Mother Reacts to Chargesheet

The mother of the four-year-old girl told The Quint that she was hopeful the chargesheet would help her daughter get justice soon. “I am thankful to the police on three counts – as a complainant for they took cognizance of my complaint, as a mother for they investigated the matter and as a citizen because they brought the school and people concerned under the ambit of JJ Act,” she said.

By merely bringing the school under ambit of negligence in letting this horrendous incident happen, they have sent out a strong message. It will serve as a warning to other schools at large to be a lot more conscious of the responsibilities that parents repose in them only to be caught off guard when incidents like this happen.

Case Timeline

• The mother of a four-year-old girl studying at a school in West Delhi’s Dwarka alleged that her child was “sexually assaulted” by a classmate on 17 November 2017.
• The woman alleged that her daughter told her that her four-year-old classmate inserted a finger and a sharpened pencil into her private parts, injuring her.
• According to the mother, the minor girl complained of abdomen pain after returning from school.
• The parents of the victim informed a teacher at the school via a text message.
• The child was taken to Rockland Hospital, Dwarka, West Delhi, where sexual assault was confirmed.
• Police said the girl’s mother approached them on 19 November, after approaching the Delhi Commission for Women.
• A complaint was then filed at the Dwarka Police Station. An FIR lodged by the victim’s mother was registered.
• The parents of the girl filed a written complaint at the school on 20 November.
• The minor girl has been admitted to another school in the wake of the incident.

(We Indians have much to talk about these days. But what would you tell India if you had the chance? Pick up the phone and write or record your Letter To India. Don’t be silent, tell her how you feel. Mail us your letter at [e-mail]. We’ll make sure India gets your message.)