Following a teenager’s suicide allegedly due to teacher harassment, Delhi’s Education Minister has formed a probe panel. The school suspended four staff, and the minister will inquire about schools’ adherence to mental health guidelines.
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Friday said that an investigation committee has been formed by the state government amid chaos over the suicide of a teenager from a prestigious school in the national capital. Speaking to reporters here, Sood said that the schools have also taken action in the case. He informed that he will be writing to schools to enquire whether they are monitoring students’ mental health and overall well-being in accordance with the CBSE guidelines.
“We have formed an investigation committee, and the school has also taken action. I see this not only as the Education Minister, but also as a concerned parent. Soon, I will be writing to schools to ask whether they are monitoring students’ mental health and overall well-being in accordance with CBSE guidelines. The state government is ready to provide handholding and support. We are deeply concerned about our children’s mental health and well-being,” the Delhi Education Minister said. The school, located in central Delhi, has suspended four of its staff members.
Family Alleges Harassment, Demands Action
Earlier, the Maternal uncle of the deceased teenager student said that there was “no clarification on the course of action against the teachers” and informed that they will carry out protests demanding the resolution of the conflicts and grievances. Speaking to ANI, the Uncle of the victim said, “Right after the suicide of my nephew, an anonymous call reached his father, who was in Maharashtra. We immediately rushed to the metro station and found that the people were already taking the kid to the hospital. He wanted to pursue his career as an actor.”
The victim’s uncle said that the child had been complaining about his teachers for 4-5 months and that they had organised a protest at the school gate at 1:00 pm today, urging action against them. “Such a creative and sensitive child was tortured and misunderstood. The children should be recognised for their unique qualities rather than focusing solely on exams and marks. The child had been complaining about his teachers for 4-5 months, whom he named in the suicide note. The parents even talked to the teachers and the principal. His friends said that the taunting and harassment increased in the last 4 days before the incident. The school did not take any action, and even the FIR was registered in 5 hours. It was when we carried out protests that this matter was taken seriously. There is no clarification on the course of action for the teachers. We will carry on our protests demanding the resolution of the conflicts and grievances of students and parents,” he added.
Father Details Repeated ‘Humiliation’
Meanwhile, the father of the deceased child has alleged that his son could not bear the “humiliation” and was subjected to repeated “scolding” by one of his teachers. A class 10 student, who allegedly died by suicide near Rajendra Place Metro Station, left a note accusing his school teachers of harassment and calling for strict action against them. “For the past 8-10 months, he’s been complaining that his teacher scolds him for every little thing. The teacher even complained to me about his mischievous behaviour. Despite our insistence, she continued to torture him. We told him we’d change schools as soon as he passed 10th grade. Three days ago, just before his board exam prelims, he was threatened with expulsion. Yesterday, he slipped and fell, and the teacher scolded him, saying he did it intentionally. He couldn’t bear the humiliation. I received a call at 3:15 pm that he had fallen from the metro station,” the father of the victim recalled on Thursday.
He further mentioned that his son has also written the names of the teachers who tortured him. “He also asked that his organs be donated after his death. He wrote that his last wish was that such an incident never happen to any child again. An FIR was filed yesterday, and we parents demand that strict action be taken against these teachers and that they be given justice,” he added.
Protests Grip School Amid Demands for Justice
Following the incident, students and parents held a protest outside the school, alleging that the school administration had ignored repeated complaints of teacher harassment. According to the FIR, the student allegedly jumped from Platform No. 2 of Rajendra Place Metro Station. Tension gripped the School, and parents and students protested after the family accused several teachers of subjecting him to sustained harassment and academic pressure, and demanded accountability. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)