School derecognised after corporal punishment to girl

New Delhi, Mar 5 (UNI) The Delhi Government has withdrawn the recognition to a public school in East Delhi after an incident of corporal punishment to a girl last month, which resulted in her going into coma.

''The Director of Education, in exercise of powers under section 24(4)(b) read with rule 56(1) of the DSEAR-1973 -- has withdrawn recognition of the Dinkar National Model School, Kondli, Delhi,''a communique by the Delhi Government said.

The withdrawal of recognition to the school came after an enquiry by Dy. Director of Education (East) R N Sharma revealed that Rinki Kaushik, a student of class X at Dinkar Model School at Kondli was physically abused by the teacher and Principal of the school due to which she was admitted to the ICU of Agrasen Hospital for Blood clotting in brain where she is recuperating.

The enquiry was ordered by Delhi Government's education department following a complaint lodged by Naresh Kumar, father of the victim, that his daughter was awarded corporal punishment due to which she went into coma.

The Dy Director of Education (East) R N Sharma was directed to hold the enquiry.

Based on the enquiry report, a show cause notice was issued to the school on February 20.

In his report, the DDE (East) said the school created hindrance to the enquiry by not furnishing the required records.

The enquiry revealed that though the school was recognised by the Education Directorate upto Class VIII, it ran unauthorised classes in violation of rule 45(1) of the DSEAR-73, which prohibits opening of new classes without prior approval of competent authority.

Also, the infrastructure of the school was found as not upto the mark.

In its plea, the school authorities said the school is recognised till class eighth, meaning thereby that Rinki Kaushik a tenth grader cannot be regarded the student of the school.

The Education Department found the reply of the school unsatisfactory as documents like fee card and the progress report of Rinki Kaushik showed that she was a student of class X at Dinkar National Model School.

It is notable that the Delhi High Court, in its CWP 196/98 (Parents for Meaningful Education Vs. Union of India and Others), prohibited corporal and physical punishment.

UNI AR AKJ KN1654