Haryana Human Rights Commission Probes School Punishment Scandal

The Haryana Human Rights Commission has initiated an investigation into a troubling report involving an 11-year-old girl subjected to harsh punishment at school for not completing her homework. The Commission responded to a September 14 news report highlighting the incident in Sonipat district.

The punishment, which was both humiliating and degrading, included requiring the student to perform 50 sit-ups, clean classroom floors, and endure public shaming by UKG students chanting "shame shame." The school principal allegedly threatened to shave the girl's hair for future homework failures.

The conduct, according to the Commission, violates the fundamental rights of the child. It emphasized that education should be conducted in a safe and nurturing environment. The incident calls into question the adherence to India's commitment to child protection both constitutionally and globally, as India is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

(With inputs from agencies.)