A row has erupted after the Carmel School closed its operation after the suicide of one of its students in Ambikapur of Chhattisgarh. According to the latest reports, the Jila Abhibhawak Sangh (a body of the parents of those studying in the schools across the district) has now approached the administration, seeking action on against the school administration’s decision to close the school after the incident.
In a memorandum submitted to the District Collector (DC) on Monday, February 12, the Jila Abhibhawak Sangh stated that after the arrest of sister Mercy, the only accused arrested in the case of suicide of the girl student, operation at the school was closed in view of maintaining the law and order. Currently, no protest has been going on against the school, but still, the school’s administration has declared leaves to exert pressure on the students and their parents.
The memorandum further stated that the school’s administration has already collected fees from the students but is deliberately misconducting with them, for which their affiliation should also be reviewed.
The Abhibhawak Sangh has further alleged that despite the recent directives suggested by the district administration in the interest of the students and their parents, the school administration has been emotionally persecuting the students and their guardians by declaring leaves without the completion of the course. The said decision by the school needs intervention from the district administration and should be prohibited.
The memorandum further stated that the school administration has not issued any grief into the suicide of the student till date, and instead of changing their behaviour, it has been trying to pressurise the students and their parents mentally, which is a violation of the Juvenile Justice Act (Care and Protection of Children).
The Abhibhawak Sangh has further demanded that the action taken against the school in the suicide case be made public, along with registering a case against the management under the Juvenile Justice Act for mentally pressuring the students and the parents.
It’s been learned that upon receiving the memorandum, the district administration has instructed the school administration to open the school on Thursday, February 15, to which the latter has agreed.
Speaking to the correspondent of Organiser, Nilesh Singh the President of the Jila Abhivhawak Sangh said a First Information Report (FIR) into the case has already been filed, though a thorough investigation should also be conducted about the role of management.
Additionally, the decision taken by the school administration to shut down the classes is adversely affecting the studies of the students as their examinations are also approaching. Nobody has asked them to close the school; hence, we have requested that the DC intervene in the matter.
Meanwhile, it’s been learned that the district administration has constituted a five-member committee to inquire about the matter, which has already registered the statements of school teachers pertaining to the suicide of the girl student. It’s been further reported that the committee will also record the statements of the school friends of the deceased girl after 15.
12 year old girl committed Suicide
It is to be noted that a 12-year-old girl student in the sixth grade at Camrel School committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling fan of her house on Tuesday night, February 6 in Darripara of Ambikapur. The girl in the suicide note blamed one of the teacher at her school, her sister Mercy, for harassing her.
The incident sparked a huge outrage among the locals, who protested against the school administration the next day, Later on the police arrested school teacher Mercy and booked her for abetment of suicide. Mercy was later produced before a court from where she was sent to judicial custody.
नाबालिग छात्रा के आत्महत्या के मामले मे सरगुजा पुलिस द्वारा त्वरित कार्यवाही कर कार्मेल स्कूल की शिक्षिका सिस्टर मर्सी कों गिरफ्तार कर माननीय न्यायालय के समक्ष पेश कर न्यायिक अभिरक्षा मे भेजा गया हैं।@IGP_Surguja pic.twitter.com/iHqaxDB30m
— Surguja police (@Surguja_police) February 7, 2024
Later on, the Women and Child Development Minister of Chhattisgarh, Lakshmi Rajwade, also paid a visit to the family of the deceased girl and assured swift action in the case.
The incident refreshes the memory of the much debated case of a 12th grade student, Lavanya, a student of Sacred Hearts Higher Secondary School of Tamil Nādu, who met a similar fate after battling for life for several days in the hospital following her suicide. Lavanya was allegedly forced and harassed by her hostel warden, Sagaya Mary for converting to Christianity.
