Panel tells cops,education dept to file report

Even after several complaints by the students’ families,the police refused to file a complaint against the school. Darul-Salam,a private Urdu-medium school that operates in Wadala slums,caters to children who fail to secure admission in civic schools.

Two state commission members,Farida Lambey and Beena Lashkari,visited the school and issued a notice to the education department and the police seeking their reports.

The issue was taken up after the students’ parents moved the commission through an NGO,seeking intervention. “Even when the Right to Education Act clearly lays down a secure and healthy environment for children,the school violates it. Recently,the Bombay High Court,too,had asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to lay down guideline on the same lines,ensuring the Act was effectively put to use. However,the authorities still do not show any sign of seriousness,” said advocate Shakil Ahmed,who runs NGO Parivartan Shikshan Sanstha.

It has been a year since the Right to Education Act was implemented. However,the complaints made to the commission have still been sparse.

“When the school failed to own up to its mistake,we approached the police. When the police also failed to intervene,we wrote to the commission. The team immediately visited us and initiated action on our complaint,” Nasrin added.

Even after repeated attempts,school authorities remained unavailable for comment.