NEW DELHI: Three days after parents of 16 girls filed a police complaint against Rabea Girls Public School in central Delhi’s Hauz Qazi area, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia visited the school and reprimanded its principal for confining students in the basement over non-payment of fees.
The CM said that in addition to a case lodged by the police a separate enquiry will also be set up by the Delhi government to look into the matter.
Meanwhile, scores of former and senior students gathered in front of the school’s primary building in support, with handwritten placards stating the news of ‘locking-up’ nursery and kindergarten is fake and demanding privilege to the school.
“We are here in support of our school because the news spreading outside is fake. None of the media organisation came to cover the school when toppers were passing out from this school. But the sudden news, which is not even true, has portrayed the school in negative,” the perfect and president of the school said. We don’t want our school to get banned by the government, said a former student.
Delhi police on July 9 evening registered an FIR against the school under section 342 IPC (punishment for wrongful confinement) and 75 JJ Act (punishment for cruelty to child). The parents of the 16 girls had alleged that the school authority locked-up their children in the basement (an activity area) as a punishment for not paying schools fees, despite the fees were paid on time.
According to the FIR lodged, the girls from nursery and kindergarten were confined in the basement for five hours.
The music teacher who was assigned to stay with the girls in the basement, said, “The girls were brought down in the activity area (located in the basement) due to a shortage of place. The step was taken keeping in mind that parents will be informed about the fees, yet to be paid. However, the whole situation went wrong.”
The parents say they don’t doubt the quality of education being provided by the school. But face problems with the management, especially after they targeted the children unjustly over the fees-related issue, which could have been resolved easily.
“It’s a wrong presentation. If ever they have any problem, they are always welcome to visit me and we take out a solution. However, they never approached me,” said Nahid Usmani, principal of Rabea Girls Public School.
When approached by the TNIE, the school management showed no interest to comment on the matter.