Parents of four children studying in Kendriya Vidyalaya No.2, Kalapet, have accused the school authorities of corporal punishment, caste-based discrimination and deliberately failing their children in theninth standard examination.
A written complaint was submitted to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) early last month. This complaint was forwarded to the Kalapet Police Station on May 12 and later to the Deputy Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalaya Schools, Regional Head Office in Chennai.
Devy Jeyaprakash, a parent, said that they had filed the complaint a month ago but no action had been taken.
“My son scores average marks. But he has not failed in any subjects till his IX grade. He is good in sports and was selected for a national-level tournament. The Principal warned us saying that he will fail my son in the examination if he participated in the competition. I questioned his intentions and urged him to let the students participate,” she said.
She also alleged that her child was being humiliated in school for being on the plump side.
Chinna Durai, who works as a non-teaching staff in Pondicherry Central University, stated that though the Principal was a good teacher, he never treated the students equally. He added that they were forced to obtain a transfer certificate from the school.
“Students are being suspended either for four days or a week. When the parents meet the Principal to find out the reason for their suspension, he never responds. Students are scared to get back to school,” another parent complained.
Despite directions from the Directorate of Prosecution, Law Department to investigate the complaints by registering FIR against the Principal for committing cruelty on a child, the Kalapet police are reluctant to file an FIR, parents allege.
A student, Karunanithy, was hospitalised in Chennai after he was beaten up by the Principal. The Principal later compensated by paying Rs 45,000 for the medical expenses. Sources in the Law Department said that a departmental action was directed to be taken against him.
