A goods vehicle driver has filed a complaint with the police alleging that his two daughters — studying in class four and class six — were allegedly locked up in a room in their school for two days during school hours for not paying fees. The incident took place in a private school at Girinagar on June 6 and 7.
In his complaint filed on June 7, the father, Chandru, said the school principal and staff where harassing his children ever since he brought up the issue of fees. “The school management demands around ₹70,000 towards the fees for both the children,” he told the police.
He claimed that when he demanded a receipt, the staff refused to give him one and instead insisted that he pay the fees if he wanted his children to continue studying in the school.
“As he had not paid the fees, the school staff had allegedly put the two students inside a room and bolted it. The complainant said the girls were made to stay there from 8.30 a.m. to 12 noon on June 6 and 7. We are investigating the matter,” said the police.
The incident came to light when Chandru went to pick up his children on June 7 and noticed that they were coming from a different direction and not from their classes. “When I asked them why, they told me they had been locked up in a room and asked me if I had paid the fees,” Chandru told the police.
He then went to the staff room and fought with the teachers for harassing his daughters. Chandru also called up the jurisdictional Block Education Officer and reported the matter.
Charge against parents
Meanwhile, the school management filed a counter-complaint with the Girinagar police on June 8 against Chandru and his wife for abusing the teachers. The headmistress, Praveena T., in her complaint stated Chandru barged into the staff room, abused teachers and created a ruckus by vandalising the furniture.
The school management maintained that all students were treated equally.