High Court Refuses To Quash Case Against Two Teachers In Mysuru Canal Tragedy

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has refused to quash the chargesheet and criminal proceedings against two teachers of Madrasa-e-Hajra Niswan in connection with the death of four children who drowned in a canal near Srirangapatna in Mysuru district.

Justice M Nagaprasanna dismissed the petition filed by teachers Nazia Banu and Najima Banu, who had sought cancellation of the chargesheet and proceedings pending before the trial court.

The court observed that teachers accompanying children on outings have a responsibility to ensure their safety. It said children remain under the care of teachers from the time they are entrusted to them until they return home, and teachers cannot escape responsibility when serious negligence is alleged.

During the hearing, the petitioners' counsel submitted that the incident was unfortunate. The court questioned why the children had been taken near the canal and why they were asked to clean utensils there. It also expressed concern that four children had lost their lives in the incident.

The court observed that parents send their children with teachers because they trust them to ensure their safety. It said the allegations required examination during trial and there were no grounds to quash the proceedings at this stage.

The incident occurred on November 1, 2025, when the madrasa had organised a programme to mark Kannada Rajyotsava. School authorities and teachers subsequently took 13 children to the Ramaswamy canal near Mandya Kopplu in Srirangapatna taluk to clean mats and utensils.

During the visit, students Ummehani, Aisha, Afrin and Tamrin reportedly slipped and fell into the canal and were swept away by the water.

Following a complaint by Ummehani's father Ismail, Arakere police registered an FIR and later filed a chargesheet against the two teachers under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The case is pending before the Srirangapatna trial court.

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