After the court was told that the family of child had since admitted the boy to a school that was far away, it observed that "All this happens because State does not do what it was expected to do after this offence."
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court has reprimanded the Uttar Pradesh government for its lack of appropriate action in the case where a Muslim child was slapped by fellow students on the instructions of their teacher in the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh last year.
The incident, which occurred at a local school, saw the Supreme Court on Friday expressing its displeasure over the state government’s failure to take specific actions to address the matter.
A bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan was told by the counsel for the state government that the child had now been admitted by his parents to a new school that was far away, which was against norms in the Right to Education Act.
The counsel for the family replied that it was left with no alternative as there were no good schools near their house.
“All this happens because State does not do what it was expected to do after this offence. The State should be very concerned about the manner in which this incident has happened. Therefore, we have raised other issues also regarding implementation of the Act,” Justice Oka observed.
The court emphasised the need for the state government to investigate the incident thoroughly and take necessary measures to ensure justice for the victim.
The court asked the Uttar Pradesh government to be more proactive in addressing such incidents and questioned how the incident transpired in the first place. The lack of swift and decisive action was a point of contention during the court proceedings.
The court directed lawyer Shadan Farasat, representing petitioner Tushar Gandhi, to suggest recommendations to the state government. These recommendations are based on the ones put forth by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), specifically regarding counseling for the victimised child and his classmates.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of students, regardless of their religious or ethnic background. The Supreme Court’s reproach serves as a reminder of the responsibility of state authorities to safeguard the rights and security of all students within their jurisdiction.
As the case unfolds, the public and concerned parties await the Uttar Pradesh government’s response and the subsequent actions taken to rectify the situation and prevent such incidents.
