Negligence charges against SDMC school

NEWDELHI: In a case of alleged negligence at a municipality-run school in west Delhi’s Sagarpur, a seven-year-old boy broke his elbow bone in a fight with a classmate when the class teacher was allegedly away on phone.

In the incident that reportedly took place on February 1, the student, Ritwik, dislocated a bone and has been advised to undergo a surgery. On February 14, his parents lodged a complaint against the school administration with the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which is responsible for the running of the school.

The student’s mother, Gudiya Devi, said, “Another boy in the class started beating my son up around 1pm. Ritwik freed himself and went up to the teacher — who was talking on the phone — and asked him for help. The teacher scolded him and sent him back to class where my son was thrown on the ground by the other boy with such force that his bone broke,” she said.

She alleged that the school administration did not inform the parents till 3.45pm. She further claimed the school administration gave false information — that Ritwik fell on his own and broke his arm — to doctors at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital.

Ritwik ’s father Ramgulum, who goes by a single name, said, “This is not the first time this has happened. When I complained to the school about this the last time, my wife was told, ‘Don’t send your husband to pick or drop Ritwik. He talks too much.”

The parents also prepared a video of the child and circulated it on social media demanding that “the teacher must be punished”.

JL Gupta, director of education, SDMC, said, “I have deputed my assistant commissioner to probe the matter. The report will reach me in two days. We will provide the family medical/monetary help and take action against whoever is found guilty.