Gurgaon: Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the death of a 16-year-old Class XI student who allegedly jumped from the third floor of her school building in Faridabad, and has sought detailed reports from the state education department, police and district administration on allegations of corporal punishment, mental harassment and lapses in child safety.The commission has directed the principal secretary of the education department, the director general of secondary education, the commissioner and deputy commissioner of police, and the district education officer to submit reports before the next hearing, scheduled for Dec 3. It has also directed the management of Navodaya Vidya Niketan Senior Secondary School on Ghazipur Road to preserve CCTV footage, attendance and class records, disciplinary records, duty rosters and other material related to the incident.The girl died on Sept 1 around 1.30pm. Her father had alleged that a teacher made her stand outside the classroom for around four hours as punishment following an incident involving food brought from outside the school. The school administration has denied the allegation, saying CCTV footage showed that the student was being counselled in the vice-principal’s room and had not been punished.According to the school’s account, the girl received a food package through the school gate, was subsequently questioned and taken to the vice-principal’s room, and later sought permission to go to the washroom. While accompanied by a peon, she ran towards the terrace and jumped.HHRC observed that corporal punishment and mental harassment have no place in schools, and referred to provisions of Juvenile Justice Act and Right to Education Act prohibiting cruelty, corporal punishment and mental harassment.“The inquiry should extend beyond individual criminal liability to institutional responsibility and the duty of schools to protect children under their care,” the commission further said, stressing that discipline must not become a source of fear, humiliation or mental trauma for students.HHRC has specifically asked police to furnish the status of the FIR registered under Section 108 (abetment to suicide) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, statements recorded, and steps taken to establish the circumstances leading to the student’s death. Police have also been asked to preserve and examine CCTV footage covering the classroom, corridors, staircase, terrace and other relevant areas.District education authorities have been asked to examine the school’s supervision arrangements, access to the terrace, CCTV coverage, emergency response and student counselling mechanisms. HHRC further directed authorities to ascertain whether the school has any systemic practice of excessive punishment, humiliation, intimidation or unreasonable disciplinary pressure.
