“Even Four-Year-Old Girls Not Spared": Bombay High Court Slams Authorities, Questions The Use Of Right To Education Without Safety

Another deeply disturbing incident of sexual abuse has surfaced at a school in Badlapur, Maharashtra, leaving the nation in shock. Just days after the horrific Kolkata rape and murder case, news broke of a school attendant allegedly sexually abusing two kindergarten students. This horrifying revelation has sparked widespread outrage, with thousands of people gathering to protest at the railway station in Thane district. The Bombay High Court has now taken notice of the case, making strong observations on Thursday as it took suo moto cognisance of the PIL and opened a public interest litigation (PIL) to address the case. Keep reading to learn more.

Badlapur School Sexual Abuse Case

Two four-year-old girls at a well-known school in Badlapur were reportedly sexually assaulted by a 23-year-old male cleaner named Akshay Shinde on August 12-13, 2024. The incidents happened in the girls’ restroom, where no female staff were present. Shinde had been hired just 12 days before, on August 1, 2024. The abuse was uncovered when one of the girls told her parents about the incident after experiencing pain. The parents then discovered that another girl had also been assaulted, leading them to file a complaint on August 16, 2024, resulting in Shinde’s arrest.

The school did not have CCTV cameras or conduct a background check on Shinde. Additionally, it lacked a Sakhi Savitri Committee, a requirement for child protection, according to Susieben Shah, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR), who is investigating the incident. (SOURCE: Indian Express & India Today)

Badlapur School Sexual Abuse Case: Bombay High Court Slams Authorities

The Bombay High Court has taken suo moto cognisance of the Badlapur sexual abuse case involving two minor girls, aged 3 and 4. The court expressed deep shock, questioning the safety of schools if such incidents can occur, stating, "If the school is not a safe place, then what is the use of speaking about the right to education? Even 4-year-old girls are not being spared. What is this situation? It is extremely shocking."

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The court also raised concerns about the delay in recording one of the victim's statements, emphasising the seriousness of the offence and urging the police to take the issue more seriously. "Two girls were sexually assaulted; how can the police not take the issue seriously? Security and safety of girls cannot be compromised at all," the court remarked.

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The court has ordered legal assistance and counselling for the victims and their families and will hear the case again on August 27, expecting the victims' statements to be recorded by then. (Source: Live Law, Times of India, NDTV)

Maharashtra Bandh Declared To Fight Against This “Distorted Mentality”

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has announced a Maharashtra bandh on August 24 to protest the recent atrocities against young girls in Badlapur. Thackeray questioned the safety of girls in schools, asking, "If girls are not safe in school, what is the meaning of 'Mulgi Shikli, Pragati Jhali'?" He emphasised that this bandh is not politically motivated but a stand against the growing violence and the "distorted mentality" in society. Drawing parallels to the nationwide protests over the Bengal incident last week, Thackeray urged people to unite in the same way they did against the COVID-19 pandemic to fight against the rape epidemic in India. (SOURCE: The Times Of India)

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