Seven-year-old Pradyumn Thakur was murdered in broad daylight, inside his school premises on 8 September. His grieving father, Barun Chandra Thakur, wants justice for his son.
While Thakur wants to ensure that no other parent has to go through what he did, he is also worried about the safety of his daughter, who studies in Class 5 at the Ryan International School in Bhondsi, Gurugram, where his son was brutally murdered.
I will never send my daughter to Ryan International School. I am worried about her safety. In fact I am scared of sending her to school. Who will ensure that my child or anybody’s child is safe when she is in school?Barun Chandra Thakur, Pradyumn’s father
On 11 September, Pradyumn’s father moved a petition in the Supreme Court with the prayer to formulate stringent guidelines to ensure safety of children in schools.
The Supreme Court issued notices to all the respondents mentioned in the petition, including the Human Resource Development ministry, the CBSE, the state of Haryana, DGP Haryana and the CBI. The matter was mentioned before a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra.
What Does the Petition Say?
In the petition, Pradyumn’s father makes six prominent prayers to the Supreme Court.
1. Absolute Safety and Security of Schoolchildren
Issue guidelines so as to establish, in clear terms, the school management’s liability, responsibility and accountability – for any accidents that may occur inside schools across the country.
2. License to be Revoked
Revoke license/recognition of institutions that fail to adhere to the guidelines on the safety and security of the children.
3. Formation of Committee
Form a committee of retired Supreme Court Judges to recommend guidelines to be framed on the safety of school children.
4. Court-monitored CBI Inquiry
Pradyumn’s parents have demanded a fool-proof, free, fair, independent and fearless investigation court-monitored CBI inquiry into his murder.
5. Security for Pradyumn Thakur’s Family
Thakur has also demanded that measures be taken to provide security for his family members.
I have lost my son. But I am worried about my family as well. I don’t know we might get attacked too because we are raising our voice against the misdeeds that are happening around us.Barun Chandra Thakur, Pradyumn’s father
6. Speedy Action Against Violators
The petition demands speedy and apt action by agencies against all such schools, management, Directors, Promoters and Principals who engage in neglecting and ignoring the concern of security and safety of the children.
Thakur has also demanded that criminal action be taken against the Directors, Promoters and Principals of the Ryan International School for the death of his son.
Pradyumn, a Class 2 student, was found with his throat slit and lying in a pool of blood in a washroom of the upscale Gurgaon school on 8 September. Ashok Kumar, a 42-year-old bus conductor employed with the school, was arrested later that day in connection with the crime after he reportedly confessed to having killed the boy after attempting to sexually abuse him.
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