Principal suspended after murder of Class 2 student

Agencies

September 9, 2017

Gurgaon, Sept 9: Amid calls for action by angry parents against a school in Gurgaon where a seven-year-old child was killed allegedly by a bus conductor inside a toilet, the acting principal of Ryan International School has been suspended.

"Principal Neerja Batra has been suspended. We took action against the security agency of the school. A special committee is probing the case," Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner of Police Simardeep Singh said this afternoon.

There have been angry protests at the Ryan International School by hundreds of agitated parents since yesterday morning when the seven year old boy was found with his throat slit in the school bathroom. The Class 2 student had been brutally murdered allegedly by a school bus conductor who also tried to sexually assault the boy.

The conductor, Ashok, was arrested late Friday evening after the police questioned several staff members, teachers and even spoke to students. He will be produced in a local court in Gurgaon this afternoon.

But parents say just the arrest of the conductor is not enough. They want the school to be held accountable. The father of the seven-year-old victim visited the Gurgaon Police Commissioner's office this morning to demand action against management of the school. His elder daughter studies in Class 5 in the same school.

"The school could not even ensure basic safety for my son, how will then parents send children to school," Jyoti, the child's mother, told news agency ANI. "My son did not even know the bus conductor as he never traveled in bus. We used to drop him and pick him," she added.

The District Collector has formed a committee which will report on the lapses by the school.

Hundreds of parents had barged into the school building yesterday, flung furniture around and shattered the glass award cases. They shouted slogans until they were ushered out by policemen of the gates. With many parents still protesting outside the school this morning, security has been significantly raised. Dozens of policemen could be seen stationed outside the school today.

Pramod Kamboj, an angry parent, says his two children go to Ryan International but neither of their teacher in-charge answered his frantic calls yesterday inquiring about the wellbeing of his children. "For any parent a school is a safe haven but not only has the school failed in providing a safe environment but also didn't find it necessary to inform worried parents if their child was the one attacked. There must be a probe against the school too," he says.

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‘Officials to pay from salary’: Supreme Court issues guidelines on ‘bulldozer justice’

News Network

November 13,2024

New Delhi: The Supreme Court took a firm stance on ‘bulldozer justice’ today, affirming that the Executive cannot bypass the Judiciary and that the legal process must not prejudge the guilt of an accused. In a significant judgment, the bench led by Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan set new guidelines for demolition practices, responding to petitions challenging the controversial bulldozer actions taken against individuals accused of crimes.

The rise of this practice, termed 'bulldozer justice,' has seen authorities in various states demolish what they claim to be illegal structures belonging to accused individuals. However, multiple petitions questioned the legality and fairness of this approach, bringing the matter before the court.

Justice Gavai highlighted that owning a home is a cherished goal for many families, and an essential question was whether the Executive should have the authority to strip individuals of their shelter. “In a democracy, the rule of law protects citizens from arbitrary actions by the state. The criminal justice system must not assume guilt,” stated the bench, underscoring that due process is a fundamental right under the Constitution.

On the principle of separation of powers, the bench reinforced that the Judiciary alone holds adjudicatory powers and that the Executive cannot overstep these boundaries. Justice Gavai remarked, “When the state demolishes a home purely because its resident is accused of a crime, it violates the doctrine of separation of powers.”

The court issued a strong warning about accountability, stating that public officials who misuse their power or act arbitrarily must face consequences. Justice Gavai observed that selectively demolishing one property while ignoring similar cases suggests that the aim might be to penalize rather than enforce legality. “For most citizens, a house is the product of years of labor and dreams. Taking it away must be an action of last resort, thoroughly justified,” he said.

In its directives under Article 142 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court established new demolition guidelines. These include:

Mandatory Show-Cause Notice: No demolition should occur without first issuing a show-cause notice. The person served has a minimum of 15 days or the duration stated in local laws to respond.

Transparency of Notice Content: The notice must include specifics about the alleged unauthorized construction, the nature of the violation, and the rationale for demolition.

Hearing and Final Order: Authorities are required to hear the response of the affected individual before issuing a final order. The homeowner will have 15 days to address the issue, with demolition proceeding only if no stay order is obtained from an appellate authority.

Contempt Proceedings: Any breach of these guidelines would lead to contempt proceedings. Officials who disregard these norms will be personally accountable for restitution, with costs deducted from their salaries.

Additionally, the court mandated that all municipal bodies establish digital portals within three months, displaying show-cause notices and final orders on unauthorized structures to ensure public transparency and accountability.

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