Court: Govt should criminally prosecute principal for 'torture'

Court: Govt should criminally prosecute principal for 'torture'

- Shruti Kakkar

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Wednesday slammed Delhi Public School, Dwarka, for allegedly confining students to the library and barring them from classes over non-payment of "unauthorised" fees. Terming the conduct "shocking," the bench said the school was treating students in a "shabby and inhuman way" and suggested that the government criminally prosecute the principal for torture.

"The controversy over fees does not give you the license to treat students with indignity," the court said, adding that the institution was being run as a "money-making machine." The judge said the school "deserved to be shut down" for its treatment of children.

The observations came while hearing an application filed by a group of parents alleging that their children had been harassed for not paying a fee hike they alleged was illegal. They alleged that since March 20, the school had confined students to the library, denied them access to classes and amenities, and prevented them from interacting with others.

The court was particularly scathing after reviewing an April 4 inspection report submitted by a committee led by district magistrate (southwest) Lakshay Singhal. The report flagged discriminatory treatment of students. "There is an inspection report. I'm concerned with you treating the students in a shabby and inhuman way. You keep them all in the library? What is going on? What steps are you taking to take care of the situation when they are treating students like chattels?"