Bombay High Court Takes Suo Motu Cognizance in Badlapur School Abuse Case, Hearing Today

Photo : PTI

Badlapur, Maharashtra: The Bombay High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the sexual assault case involving two four-year-old girls at a school in Badlapur, Maharashtra, following a significant protest in Thane. The court will hear the case on Thursday, with a division bench led by Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan scheduled to review the matter.

The alleged abuse occurred when two kindergarten students were reportedly assaulted by a 23-year-old male sweeper, Akshay Shinde, in the school toilet. The distressing revelations emerged after one of the girls complained of pain and disclosed the abuse to her parents. Upon discovering similar experiences shared by the other girl, the parents sought medical confirmation from a local doctor, who verified the sexual assault.

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The incident ignited outrage among parents and local residents, leading to a violent protest outside the school on Tuesday. Demonstrators threw stones, vandalized the school, and clashed with police. In response, the Maharashtra Police have detained over 40 individuals and filed an FIR against approximately 300 protesters.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has pledged swift action, announcing the formation of a special investigation team to handle the case. He has also called for a review of the Sakhi Savitree committees, which are intended to safeguard women and children.

Susieben Shah, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, criticized the school for its lack of female attendants in toilets and overall negligence. “The incident is deeply condemnable,” Shah stated, adding that the school showed significant shortcomings.

Political reactions to the case have been intense. Opposition parties, including Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), have accused Chief Minister Shinde of politicizing the issue. Congress state president Nana Patole and the NCP have announced a Maharashtra Bandh on August 24 to protest the handling of the case.