Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Wednesday asked the state government to reply to the recommendations of the committee formed by the government to examine the safety and security of children in schools and other educational institutions. The committee was formed by the state in the wake of sexual assault on two minor girls in a school in Badlapur.
The committee, headed by retired high court judges Sadhana Jadhav and Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi, submitted a detailed report to a bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Neela Gokhale, which said they will go through the report.
The bench also asked public prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar to place the report before the government and then suggest steps it proposes to take on implementation of the recommendations.
The committee also included retired IPS officer Meeran Borwankar; Sucheta Bhawalkar, head mistress attached to Indian Education Society’s VN Sule High School, Dadar; Jaywanti Baban Sawant, principal, Sudhagad Sanstha, Hindi Prathamik Vidyalaya, Kalamboli; and noted psychiatrist Harish Shetty.
Besides, Brian Seymour, president of ICSE and ISC pre-schools in Maharashtra and Goa (AISM), Inspector of ICSE and ISC pre-schools (India) & Safety measures of Children – 1st to 4th standard were also included in the committee.
The recommendations include mandatory CCTV cameras in school premises, character verification of staff and schools should take responsibility for transportation. It also suggested that the children should be taught to distinguish between good touch and bad touch.
The report further suggests that children must be made aware of cyber crimes and toll-free child helpline number ‘1098’ should be displayed at prominent places.
The court had taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of the assault on the minors on August 12 and 13 last year. The issue gained prominence after the people in Badlapur protested on the streets and staged a rail blockade after the police and the school failed to attend against the culprit.
The government constituted the committee on August 23, which was then expanded by the high court to include retired HC judges.
The committee was asked to review all existing government resolutions, guidelines and circulars issued from time to time concerning the safety and security of children in all schools, their vicinity and also during transportation.
It has to recommend “future steps to enhance the safety of students”. Further, was asked to recommend steps to be taken for effective implementation of the POCSO Act and all other relevant laws.
