The Supreme Court on Friday reprimanded the Uttar Pradesh government for its failure to comply with the court’s directive to assign an agency to counsel the Muslim boy and his classmates, involved in an incident where the students were allegedly instructed by their teacher to slap the boy for not completing his homework. The teacher was accused of making communal slurs against the victim boy.
The Court noted that there was a “total non-compliance” by the state government with its orders. Justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal directed the principal secretary of the state’s school education department to virtually attend the next hearing to avoid potential strong action by the Court.
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai was appointed by the Court to recommend the mode and manner of counseling for the affected child and his classmates. The Court expressed disappointment in the government’s approach to providing counseling, calling it shocking. TISS was instructed to suggest the names of expert child counselors available in the state to provide counseling under their supervision.
The Court directed the UP government to offer complete infrastructural support to TISS and to provide a report by the next hearing on December 11.
The Muzaffarnagar Police had filed a case against the teacher following allegations of communal remarks against the Muslim boy and instructing his peers to slap him. The school was also served notice by the state’s education department.
The victim’s admission to a private school was facilitated following the Court’s direction on November 6. The plea was submitted by Tushar Gandhi, seeking an expedited investigation in the case.
The Court, on October 30, directed the Uttar Pradesh government to promptly decide on allowing the prosecution of the school teacher. The Court mentioned the victim’s severe emotional distress and suggested seeking expert help from agencies like NIMHANS or TISS for counseling.
