Parents of students file writ petition against school authorities

Barrackpore, Sep 21 (UNI) A writ petition has been filed in the Calcutta Hight Court by parents of the students who drowned in river Hooghly on August 5, alleging that no action had so far been taken to recover their bodies.

Two students of Sacred Heart School of North 24 Parganas had drowned and their bodies were yet to be recovered, the parents maintained while adding that they had demanded the Court to issue orders for an immediate CBI enquiry and the recovery of their children's bodies dead or alive.

A habeas corpus was filed before the court of Justice Amit Talukdar of the Calcutta High Court early this week on behalf of the father of Partha Saha, who lived in the school hostel run by its principal Junita Jhonson. He is said to have drowned along with another student Nabankur Banerjee.

Partha Saha of class VIII and Nabankur Banerjee of class IX of the Sacret Heart School reportedly drowned in the river Hooghly when they were taken to the bathing ghat by teacher Bhaskar Roy along with other students on August 5.

the police, with the help of the local civil defence authorities, had conducted some abortive search operations for a couple of days but washed their hands after registering a case against the school authorities. Till date, school authorities have not responded to the prayers of the victims parents, alleged Partha Saha's mother.

The petitioners alleged that neither the police nor the district administration had taken any action against the school authorities for their negligence and also feared foul play against the reported missing of the students.

Incidentally, the hearing remained pending before the court due to delay in acknowledgement of notice by respondent Junita Jhonson, the petitioner's advocate said today. The matter will be reopened as soon as the respondent acknowledges receipt of the notice, he said.

The chief minister, governor and state Human Rights Commision chairman were informed of their alleged negligence.

UNI