Govt accuses Rajura school mgmt of criminal negligence

Nagpur: After Maharashtra government agreed to fulfil prayers of petitioner mothers, including taking over the Rajura school management, the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court disposed of their plea on Friday.
Earlier, accusing the Infant Jesus English Public High School management led by ex-Congress MLA Subhash Dhote of “criminal negligence”, the government informed that it would recover Rs4 crore granted to the school towards welfare of 292 tribal students over last three years. This amount would be used for students’ rehabilitation and they would be shifted to Devada Eklavya Model Residential School in Rajura from next academic session.
A division bench comprising justices Zaka Haq and Vinay Joshi then directed petitioners’ counsel Firdos Mirza to file a new PIL for directives to the government to frame a policy to avoid recurrence of such incidents of children living in school hostels being sexually exploited by authorities.
The HC also allowed the aggrieved mothers to withdraw Rs50,000 compensation granted by the government under Atrocities Act by lifting its interim stay. The aggrieved mothers were granted liberty to approach HC anytime by just filing an application, if they face any problem in future regarding the case investigations or if their grievances aren’t fulfilled.
Earlier, an affidavit filed by Tribal Development Department (TDD) principal secretary Manisha Verma on chief secretary’s behalf informed that the government had already asked the Pune-based director (Secondary and Higher) education to appoint an administrator on the school.
After HC notice to chief secretary on April 22, he immediately convened a meeting of all concerned officials in view of the gravity and sensitive nature of the case on Wednesday. He directed them to initiate legal proceedings against the school under the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Management) Act, 1976 and School Education Department’s circular of April 18, 2013.
Accordingly, the government told Pune-based director (Secondary and Higher Secondary) to take necessary action regarding administrator’s appointment on the school, but only after granting necessary hearing to the school management.
The government also sought a detailed report from Chandrapur Zilla Parishad education officer (Primary and secondary) with a view to derecognize the school. After receiving the report, a final decision would be taken in this regard by the School Education and Sports Department with the government’s approval. The TDD had already written to the School Education Department to initiate an enquiry against the school.
Terming the case as “unfortunate”, Verma said it caused disrepute to TDD’s ‘Namankit Scheme’. It also led to immense mental and physical agony to the minor survivors and their families, and therefore, the school’s ‘Namankit Scheme’ status was cancelled. The government had entrusted this institution the responsibility of surrogate parent, which was breached in blatantly criminal manner. No new student has been admitted in this school from last year and this year as well, she said.
TDD joint secretary Sunil Patil (IAS) visited Chandrapur on April 17, and consulted police officials and district administration. A special cell was constituted later with all women members, including child psychologist Pratibha Gajbhiye, having over 17 years experience in handling such cases. Local women officers and TDD’s senior female consultant is also part of the panel, constituted to support the investigations.
“The panel has been instrumental in achieving the breakthrough in investigations and making the children share what transpired,” Verma said.
WHAT GOVT AFFIDAVIT SAYS
* To recover Rs4 crore grant given to school towards welfare of 292 students over last 3 yrs
* Amount to be used for tribal students’ rehabilitation & quality education
* Students to be shifted to Devada Eklavya Model Residential School from July session
* Pune-based director told to appoint administrator on school, after hearing management
* Detailed report sought from Chandrapur ZP education officer to derecognize school
* Incident caused immense mental & physical agony to minor survivors & their families
DHOTE MOVES HC TO QUASH FIR
President of Infant Jesus Education Society, running the Rajura school, Subhash Dhote filed an application in the ongoing case praying for quashing of FIR registered by Ram Nagar police station in Chandrapur. He was booked under the Atrocities Act, after he made a controversial statement at a press conference that tribals were lodging complaints against the school for monetary aid. His move backfired and the former MLA was forced to step down as Chandrapur Congress chief by MPCC chief Ashok Chavan. Later, an FIR was filed against him for the statement. When his application came up for hearing, the HC rejected his prayer and asked him to file a fresh plea next week.