New Delhi, 18th September, 2014

The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that the students were forced to wear helmets in their classes in order to protect themselves from the falling plaster from the roof of a dilapidated school building in village Doodhli, 25 kilometres from Dehradoon, the capital city of Uttarakhand. Reportedly, many students were injured when plaster had fallen on them from the roof. Therefore, the parents provided helmets to their wards.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raised a serious issued of violation of human rights of school children. Accordingly, notices have been issued to the Secretary, Department of Education, Government of Uttarakhand and District Magistrate, Dehradoon calling for a factual report within two weeks.

The District Magistrate has also been asked to submit a report in respect of the number of children who had suffered injuries in the school; details of medical treatment provided to them and any exgratia relief granted by the State Government.

The Secretary, Department of Education, has been further directed to submit a report in respect of the various school buildings which were in a dilapidated condition and the corrective measures taken or proposed to be taken by the State Government.
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