Govt orders inquiry, cops book case against school

Hyderabad: In a shocking incident, an 11-year-old girl studying in fifth standard in a corporate school was forced to stand inside the boys’ toilet as a punishment for not wearing school uniform. The girl was forced to do so by the Physical Training Education (PTE) teacher. Angry parents and child rights activists held demonstration at the school and also damaged some furniture of school. Later, the police registered cases against Principal and the woman PTE teacher and served notices on them.

The incident, which took place on Saturday in Rao’s High School near BHEL area, drew severe criticism from different sections of the society as the punishment left girl traumatised.

The girl’s father, P Vijay, said his daughter, was left humiliated and traumatised. Despite sending a note, informing the school authorities. stating the reason for the girl to wear civil dress, the PTE teacher, Priyanka K dragged the girl and forced the latter to stand near the washroom.

The teacher refused to listen to the girl, the Vijay said. “After returning home, she broke down and said that she was made to stand near the boys’ washroom for wearing civil dress,” he said. The girl informed the parents that at around 2 pm she came down to ground floor from first floor of her classroom to use the washroom.

However, while she was returning to the classroom, a non-teaching staff member of school, named Priyanka, saw her on the steps and asked her the reason for not wearing the uniform.

“I told that my mother washed it, so I could not wear the uniform. I also tried to explain that my parents have written a note in my school diary. However, the teacher did not listen to me and continued to shout. She later dragged me to the boys' toilet and made me stand there. I have decided that I won't go back to the school," the girl said.

Following the incident, several child rights activists demanded that a case be registered against the teacher under the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Angry parents and child rights activists vandalised and broke furniture of the administration office of a school.

The girl’s parents made a video of her talking about her traumatic experience and sent it to Balala Hakkula Sangam. "We want to press for criminal charges against the school and teachers. How can they act in such an insensitive manner," said Achyuta Rao of Balala Hakkula Sangham.

The woman teacher, however, denied the allegations and told the media that the girl was only asked to state the reason for not wearing uniform. She said the boys’ washroom and was next to the classroom and she never asked her to stand
inside it.

Reacting to the incident, Minister K T Rama Rao, in his tweet, said, “Ridiculous & absolutely inhuman. Will take it up with Hon’ble Deputy CM for appropriate action on the school.”

Later in the evening, the R C Puram police registered case against Principle and PTE teacher under sections 342, 324, 506, 504 & 34 IPC and served notices.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari on Monday directed officials of the Education Department to inquire into the incident. The District Education Officers who visited the school on Monday and conducted inquiry into the incident. The school management had sacked the teacher responsible for the incident. The Deputy Chief Minister said that action would be taken against the school management after going through the report of the Educational Officers.