A demand has been made in the High Court for an inquiry into the death of a sixth-grade girl in Vasai who was made to do 100 squats with a backpack on her back as punishment for being ten minutes late for school. A female lawyer wrote a letter to the Chief Justice, demanding that he take cognizance of the matter and order an inquiry into the matter.
Kajal Gaud, a sixth-grade girl, and some other students were punished with 100 squats on their backs for arriving late to school on November 8. After returning home from school, Kajal started suffering from back pain. Initially, she was admitted to a hospital in Vasai, then as her condition deteriorated, she was shifted to J. J. Hospital. However, she died on November 14.
Advocate Swapna Kode has written to the Chief Justice regarding the matter. Also, although the local police are investigating the matter, no case has been registered in this regard yet nor has any action been taken against the accused. However, according to media reports, the school administration was aware of Kajal's illness and had asked her parents to treat her.
However, the school administration is claiming that the female teacher in question was not aware that Kajal was among those who punished her. Therefore, the Chief Justice should take cognizance of this incident on his own.
Kode has also demanded that a notice be issued to the state government and the state Director General of Police ordering the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to expeditiously investigate Kajal's death and the illegal operations of the school. They have also demanded through the letter that a case be registered against the school management and the teacher concerned.
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