2 min readHyderabadUpdated: Dec 13, 2025 08:11 AM IST
The HRC held there was gross negligence by the Government Tribal Welfare Residential Hostel, Khammam, and supervising Tribal Welfare Department officers, which led to the minor’s death. (Photo: tshrc.telangana.gov.in)
Over seven years after her son was allegedly killed at a tribal school hostel by a schoolmate, a deaf widow was awarded relief by the Telangana Human Rights Commission Friday.
The HRC headed by Chairperson Justice Dr Shameem Akther recommended that the chief secretary provide the woman a regular government job in the last grade category by relaxing necessary rules, and grant her Rs 5 lakh as compensation. The recommendations are to be implemented within six months, with a compliance report submitted to the Commission.
On October 23, 2018, a minor was allegedly strangled and bludgeoned to death by a schoolmate after he resisted sexual assault at the Government Tribal Residential Welfare School in Khammam.
A report by the Khammam Commissioner of Police to the HRC noted that the classmate had a history of violence, was a suspect in a murder investigation at the time, and that the school principal and hostel warden were aware of his behaviour.
The case is still being tried.
The HRC held there was gross negligence by the Government Tribal Welfare Residential Hostel, Khammam, and supervising Tribal Welfare Department officers, which led to the minor’s death. The principal and hostel warden were suspended after the incident.
A few months after the boy’s murder, his father, a daily wage labourer, died, leaving the mother struggling to raise their young daughter without income. The HRC noted that despite negligence being clearly established, no meaningful support or adequate compensation had been provided.
“Taking note of the vulnerable condition of the boy’s mother—who is deaf and mute, earning irregular wages, and solely caring for her daughter and aged mother-in-law—the Commission recommends that the government provide her with a regular government job at the lowest pay grade, and pay Rs 5 lakh compensation,’’ the HRC stated, calling this a “just and humane” measure to uphold dignity and basic human rights.
Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance.
Expertise and Experience
Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues:
High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules.
Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes.
Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak.
Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More
