In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has issued an order for a senior IPS officer to supervise the investigation into a distressing incident in which a seven-year-old Muslim boy was repeatedly slapped by his classmates, following their teacher’s instructions, in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. The apex court has deemed the allegations, if true, as profoundly disturbing, emphasizing that they should “shock the state’s conscience.” The court has labeled the matter as a question of the right to life, underlining its gravity.
The incident gained widespread attention after a video capturing the horrifying act went viral earlier this year, sparking outrage across the nation. In the distressing footage, the young student can be seen crying as his classmates take turns slapping him, all under the teacher’s directive to hit him forcefully.
As part of its directives, the Supreme Court has mandated the Uttar Pradesh government to arrange professional counseling for the victim and the other students involved in the incident. The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 30, during which it expects the UP government to submit a compliance report regarding the counseling process and assume responsibility for the victim’s education.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court has expressed serious reservations regarding the content of the First Information Report (FIR) filed in the case. It noted that the FIR did not include the allegations made by the child’s father, who stated that his son was subjected to physical abuse due to his religion. The court stressed that this incident raises concerns about the quality of education and underscores the need for sensitive education practices. It also called it a failure on the part of the UP government to adhere to the provisions of the Right to Education Act, which guarantees quality, free, and compulsory education to children up to 14 years without any form of discrimination based on caste, creed, or gender.
The Supreme Court’s involvement in this case comes in response to a plea filed by Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, who sought a swift and thorough investigation.
The Uttar Pradesh government, on its part, has claimed that the communal angle in the case was exaggerated.
This incident had previously prompted the Supreme Court to issue a notice to the UP government, seeking a report from the District Superintendent of Police. The court sought information on the actions taken against the accused and measures taken to ensure the safety of the child’s family.
The accused in the case is a 60-year-old teacher and the principal of Neha Public School in Muzaffarnagar, Tripta Tyagi. Initially, Tyagi expressed no remorse for her actions but later released a video message in which she stated that there was no communal intent behind her instructions to students to slap their Muslim classmate. She apologized and asked for forgiveness in her video message.
The incident had garnered condemnation from politicians across party lines, with many characterizing it as a hate crime and directing criticism at the ruling BJP government in the state.
Sources By Agencies
