The Commissioner of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) failed to turn up for a hearing at the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) in connection with the delay in suspencing a principal who was arrested on the charge of sexually harassing a student.
Kripa Amar Alva, chairperson of the commission, said that KVS Commissioner Santosh Kumar Mall had failed to show up for the hearing. “The KVS, which suspended him on Thursday, delayed the action and need to give an explanation for the same. We have summoned him next Saturday,” she said.
According to Ms. Alva, P. Devakumar, Deputy Commissioner, KVS Regional Office, attended the hearing but was unable to come up with satisfactory responses.
Principal Kumar Thakur was accused of sexually harassing a high school student. He was booked under the POCSO Act. He was arrested and later released on bail after which he allegedly tried to intimidate the complainant by going to the school the next day.
He was asked to go on leave and was later transferred to a school in Karwar. It was only on Thursday that the KVS suspended him following an internal inquiry. During the inquiry, teachers too complained of being sexually harassed by him.
