HC slams police, school over delayed action in Badlapur sexual abuse case

The Bombay High Court expressed outrage on Thursday over the police’s handling of a sexual assault case involving two kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur near Mumbai.

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The court, taking suo motu cognizance of the case that has sparked widespread protests, sharply criticised both the local police for delays in registering the First Information Report (FIR) and the school authorities for failing to promptly report the crime.

A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan described the crime as “absolutely shocking” and emphasised that there can be no compromise on the safety and security of children, particularly girls. The court questioned the very essence of education in light of such incidents, stating: “If schools are not a safe place... then what is the point of talking about ‘right to education’?”

The case revolves around the alleged sexual assault of two kindergarten girls, both around 4 years old, by a male attendant in the school’s washroom on August 12 and 13. However, the FIR was only registered on August 16, with the accused arrested the following day.