Speaking to The Quint, the mother of the four-year-old girl ‘raped’ by her classmate in a school in Delhi has demanded that the school should take up responsibility for the negligence which led to the alleged crime. In an incident which came into light on 23 November 2017, the minor boy had reportedly inserted his finger and a sharpened pencil into his classmate, injuring her private parts while both the children were in school.
The police knew that the minor cannot be tried and still registered a case only against the kid and let the school go scot-free. I want the child to be expelled as a corrective measure. I don’t have anything against the child and probably he too is a victim of sexual abuse.Mother of four-year-old girl
Commenting on the school’s responsibility, the girl’s mother said that she would like to see the school booked under Section 26 of the POCSO Act.
‘School Did Not Act on Time’
The mother of the girl has said that the school’s move to transfer the boy to another section did not make the school any safer. She said that she wanted to pull her child out of school and alleged that the school showed "no urgency" to act on the complaint.
In the classroom, there was no teacher when the assault happened. In the washroom, the ayah or the helper was not around.Mother of 4-year-old minor girl
The girl’s mother said that she was told about the incident at 12 am on 18 November 2017 and she had informed the school on 19 November 2017. Furthermore, she clarified that contrary to reports, the crime took place in the classroom as well as in the washroom of the Delhi school.
The police are reportedly “deliberating” on how best to proceed with the investigation in the case, while the school authorities have informed the mother that the child has been transferred to another section.
Delhi police spokesperson Dependra Pathak reportedly said that they were dealing the minor boy with "utmost sensitivity" and that he was being counselled by an NGO.
The lawyer representing the school told Hindustan Times that the girl did not report the alleged crime to the authorities the day it occurred.
The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has summoned the principal and three staff members of the school.
“Considering the seriousness of the matter you are asked to appear before the commission on 27 November and bring along the two teachers concerned and the ‘ayah’,” the notice issued to the school read.
The child rights commission has also issued a notice to the police station's SHO seeking an action taken report within seven days.
(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT in partnership with #MyRightToBreathe to find a solution to pollution. Send in your suggestions to fit@thequint.com or WhatsApp @ +919999008335)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)