BANGALORE: The Education Department has initiated criminal proceedings against the Orchids International School, Jalahalli, where an incident of sexual assault on a three-year-old child was reported three days ago.
The Commissioner for the Department of Public Instruction, Mohammed Mohsin, who visited the school on Thursday, said, “I have directed DDPI officials to file a criminal case against the school.”
Mohsin said the school has violated many norms. “The Hyderabad-based school started functioning in 2013-14 with five branches across the city. But, till date, they have not even got the provisional affiliation from CBSE,” he said.
According to information available with the department, the school had taken permission from the state government to teach in Kannada medium from Class 1 to 5, but is teaching in English medium up to Class 7.
“The school is cheating the public and we are filing a case against the management and staff for misleading people,” said Mohsin.
Meanwhile, the department conducted inspections at all the five branches and found similar violations. “Even the safety guidelines have been violated partially. All the five branches have similar violations when it comes to affiliation. I have directed all the concerned DDPIs to initiate action against the schools,” Mohsin said.
The school has violated most of the clauses/conditions laid down for permission to open a school. “Out of 23 conditions, they have violated most of them, and following that we will issue a notice, which is the procedure to withdraw the permission given,” said Mohsin.
Reactions
“We condemn the incident and also demand the government to take action against the department officials who allowed such a school to function by violating all the norms,” said the members of Karnataka Private Schools Joint Action Committee (KPSJAC).
The committee also advised the parents to be careful before admitting their wards to the newly set-up schools.
“When it comes to safety guidelines, this school had taken all the measures. There are over 16 CCTV cameras, security is all fine, parents have been issued ID cards and nobody is allowed without an ID card. Then what is wrong?” asked D Shashikumar, organising secretary, KPSJAC.
“I visited the school and our officials are on the spot collecting the information. We are in touch with the Education Department about the action being taken against the school,” said Umashree, Minister for Women and Child Welfare.
Admissions Unauthorised
Shockingly, the school has no authority to admit children to the nursery class as it has got government permission only for classes 1 to 5. The three-year-old child who was sexually assaulted was studying in the nursery.
TRAIL OF SHAME
The rising number of sexual assaults on kids has put Bangalore on the country’s radar for the wrong reasons
January 8: A two-and-a-half-year-old student of a pre-school on Sarjapur Main Road was allegedly sexually abused by the school van driver. The incident came to light after the police received a memo from a private hospital where the girl was admitted for treatment.
August 5: A 63-year-old teacher Chandramouli, who allegedly molested an eight-year-old girl at school, was arrested by the Thalaghattapura police. He is said to have physically abused seven girls at a private school on Kanakapura Road for more than 45 days. Chandramouli is a retired government employee.
July 2: A six-year-old student of Vibgyor High School was raped. Police arrested two gym instructors for the crime.
July 24: Staff members of the Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidya Mandir (SSRVM) were charged with inappropriate behaviour with a high school girl. Physical education instructor
D Arifulla was sent on long leave following a complaint from the Class 8 girl. “His way of looking at me makes me uncomfortable,” the girl said in her complaint.
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