Bombay High Court Takes Suo Motu Cognizance of Badlapur School Sexual Abuse Case
- Posted on August 22, 2024
- News
- By Arijit Dutta
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The Bombay High Court will hear the Badlapur school sexual abuse case involving two 4-year-old girls. Protests erupted in Thane, leading to arrests. Chief Minister Shinde promised swift action, while opposition parties called for a statewide bandh. The incident has raised concerns about child safety in schools.
The Bombay High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls at a school in Badlapur, Maharashtra. The case, which has sparked widespread protests and violence in Thane district, will be heard on Thursday by a division bench comprising Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan.
The incident came to light when one of the victims complained of pain in her private parts and later revealed to her parents that a male sweeper had inappropriately touched her in the school toilet. Medical examination confirmed sexual assault on both girls. The accused, 23-year-old Akshay Shinde, was arrested last week.
The revelation led to massive protests outside the school, with enraged parents and citizens demanding justice. The situation escalated into violence, resulting in stone-throwing and vandalism of school property. Maharashtra Police arrested over 40 individuals and registered an FIR against 300 people following the unrest.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has promised swift action, announcing the formation of a special investigation team. He also called for a review of Sakhi Savitree committees across the state, which are responsible for ensuring the safety of women and children.
Also Read: Riteish Deshmukh Expresses Outrage Over Badlapur Sexual Assault Case
Susieben Shah, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, criticized the school for negligence and the absence of female attendants in toilets. The incident has also sparked political controversy, with opposition parties accusing the government of politicizing the issue.
In response to the growing outrage, Congress state president Nana Patole and the NCP(SP) have called for a Maharashtra Bandh on August 24. As the high court prepares to hear the case, the incident has reignited discussions on child safety in educational institutions and the effectiveness of existing protection measures.
