The Supreme Court, headed by Justice A.S. Oka, directed the Uttar Pradesh government to assign a senior Indian Police Service officer to oversee the prosecution of a case involving the slapping of a Muslim boy in Muzaffarnagar by his classmates on their teacher’s instruction. This order followed the government’s assurance that a chargesheet had been filed in the case. The court mandated the Home Department to nominate an appropriate senior IPS officer to ensure proper prosecution.
Previously, on April 15, the court had sought clarification from the state government regarding measures taken to prosecute the teacher involved. The court has been actively monitoring the case and ensured counseling for the affected child and classmates by engaging agencies like HAQ, Muskan, and Childline.
As a result of the court’s intervention, the child was transferred from the makeshift school at the teacher’s house to a proper institution, with the state agreeing to cover the educational expenses. The court has consistently criticized the state’s failure to provide a safe educational environment, in line with the Right to Education Act, which mandates quality education without discrimination.
Describing the incident as a severe violation of Article 21A of the Constitution and the Right to Education Act, the court has pledged to address broader issues regarding the Act’s implementation in Uttar Pradesh.
