Alleged sexual assualt on 2 minor girls: Bombay HC voices concern over school safety, castigates police for sluggish investigation

The Bombay High Court on Aug 22 expressed serious concerns over the safety of girls in schools and questioned “if schools are not safe, what is the significance of debating the right to education”.

The court castigated the Badlapur police for sluggish investigation and delay in recording statements of one of the victims of the sexual abuse case.

“Even four-year-old girls are not being spared. This situation is extremely shocking,” said Justice Mohite-Dere.

“Security and safety of girls cannot be compromised. The machinery does not work, unless there is a strong public outburst,” he observed.

Justice Prithviraj K Chavan and Justice Mohite-Dere heard the alleged sexual assault case of two minors at a school in Badlpur Maharastra. The matter will now be heard on August 27.

The court also sought an affidavit from the state government detailing the actions taken by Badlapur Police before the case was transferred to the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The bench asked the police to provide details about the steps taken to ensure the security and safety of the two girls and said the court would examine the measures taken by the police.

Birendra Saraf, Advocate General, appearing for the state government assured the court that all necessary steps will be taken to protect children, and SIT has been set up for a thorough and swift investigation into the case.

Meanwhile amid raging anger against the Badlapur sexual assault case, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has called for a ‘Maharashtra bandh’ on Aug 24.

The Bandh call was made after the MVA allies held a meeting in Mumbai, which was attended by leaders from Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP.

Earlier on Aug 20, a mob attacked the family of the accused, and vandalized his home, media reports said. The protestors later staged agitations at the Badlapur railway station and outside the school where the accused is working as a cleaning staff member.

Meanwhile a group of parents and the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navinirman Sena (MNS) party workers on Aug 22 stormed into a school in Thane district of Maharashtra demanding action against a teacher, reported the PTI.

The aggrieved parents alleged that a woman teacher had hit a student resulting in injuries on his head.