Student slap case: SC seeks probe status report from UP Police

New Delhi: Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Uttar Pradesh Police to file a report regarding the status of investigation in relation to an FIR registered against a school teacher who allegedly urged fellow students to slap a 7-year-old boy while referring to his faith in an absurd manner.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Pankaj Mithal issued notice on the plea filed by Tushar Gandhi, a social activist and the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, seeking directions for a time-bound and independent investigation in the incident and setting up of guidelines for preventing violence against students belonging to religious minorities in schools.

The bench also asked Muzaffarnagar Superintendent of Police to inform it about the measures taken to protect the student and his parents by September 25.

On August 24, a video went viral where fellow students were seen slapping a 7-year-old at the behest of the teacher of a private school who referred to his faith in an absurd manner.

Reportedly, the boy’s family has said that he was beaten up for a mistake in the multiplication of tables, during the class. The school is located at Khubbapur village in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district.

The teacher from Neha Public School had justified her actions, saying that it is important to “control” the kids at the school.

Accused Tripti Tyagi, who also owns the school, has not been arrested yet. The boy’s family has already taken him out of the school and is looking for a new school.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had already taken suo motu cognisance of media reports and issued a notice to the state government. It has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, amount to a violation of the victim's human rights.