Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 24
Even as a consultative session on the ‘Role of Schools in Child Protection’ was conducted with heads of educational institutions by the CHILDLINE Dimapur on Saturday, there is an ongoing Court case against Principal of a reputed school in Dimapur for allegedly failing to take remedial measures against ragging/bullying in that school.
The Morung Express is in possession of documents pertaining to the case (C.R.NO. 5/2017) filed in the Court of The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Dimapur. The complainant is the father of a Class 8 student who has been reportedly undergoing several forms and instances of bullying for years from a fellow classmate.
Prior to filing the Court case, the matter was brought to the notice of the Principal several times for taking remedial and preventive measures. It was learnt that the other student had, last year, tendered apology not to repeat similar acts but the bullying continued till recent times. The School authority had separated the two students into different sections this year but bullying, teasing, intimidation and verbal abuses continued.
An instance of bullying happened on April 26, 2017 within the school campus and the father of the victim wrote a formal complaint letter to the Principal on May 3, 2017.
However, it was stated that the Principal refused to acknowledge and receive the complaint and did not assure of providing any corrective and preventive measures. A joint meeting of the parents of both the students called by the Principal ended up with the latter remaining a silent spectator while the two parties hurled abuses at each other, it was stated. “As such, to avoid any untoward incident, enmity and hostility, the complainant walked out,” it was stated.
The complainant further alleged that the Principal entirely overlooked the issue as well as the Nagaland Board of School Education notification to heads of registered institutions to take appropriate measures to curb the menace of bullying/ragging in schools.
The complainant has appealed the Court to order relinquishment of office by the Principal to avoid scope of tampering proofs and evidence and to pave way for free and fair enquiry.
Meanwhile, the Principal in his reply described the allegations as “frivolous, vexatious and malicious.” He said the School had tried to bring an amicable settlement between the two students and their parents were also called for a joint meeting on May 10, 2017 but added that the parents of the complainant walked out.
The Principal also pointed out that the parents of all students had taken an undertaking to abide by the rules and all decisions of the school. “As such the filing of any case, be it civil or criminal, by the complainant is totally barred,” the Principal stated and added that the “complainant cannot file a suit for complaint against school authorities.”
However, since the complainant claimed that he had sought legal recourse only after having exhausted all formal and informal means of approaching the Principal for taking corrective and preventive measures against bullying his child in the school, it now remains to be seen how the Court proceedings would go on. The next Court hearing is fixed for July 20, 2017.
