School responsible if children are injured on premises: BMC

Earlier,BMC had taken a non-committal stand and shirked the responsibility of students’ security.

The HC had pulled up the civic authority for disparaging children from slums in municipal schools. The first affidavit filed by the BMC stated that many students in civic schools are from slum areas and may not always hail from “good” families. They often have bad habits,are influenced by movies and fight in classrooms over petty issues,the nine-page affidavit stated.

However,after being reprimanded by the HC,BMC filed a fresh affidavit apologising for the mistake and also claimed to have suspended the official who had filed it.

The court has now given a week’s time to the petitioner to reply and make suggestions before the case,if disposed of.

“We read through the affidavit and have a few suggestions to make before the court. We raised objection on the aspect that in absence of a teacher in a class,a teacher from another class will be made in-charge. We will raise our objection stating such an arrangement would not be a final solution. Extra teachers should be present in the school and take charge in the absence of the class teacher,” said petitioner’s counsel Bhavesh Parmar.