NHRC notice to the Government of Uttar Pradesh over the reported beating of a student by his classmates at the behest of his teacher referring to his faith in an absurd manner in Muzaffarnagar

Press Release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi, 29th August, 2023

NHRC notice to the Government of Uttar Pradesh over the reported beating of a student by his classmates at the behest of his teacher referring to his faith in an absurd manner in Muzaffarnagar

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that a teacher of a private school referring to the faith of one of her students in an absurd manner ordered his classmates to beat him. The school is located at Khubbapur village in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Reportedly, the boy’s family has said that he was beaten up for a mistake in the multiplication of tables, during the class. A video of the incident went viral on 25th August 2023, leading to calls for action against the teacher and the school.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, amount to a violation of the victim's human rights. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. It should include the action taken against the teacher, the status of the FIR registered in the matter and compensation if any, paid to the aggrieved family, as well as steps taken/proposed to be taken to ensure that such shameful incidents do not recur in the future.

According to the media report on 28th August 2023, the teacher, who also owns the school, has not been arrested yet. The school does not meet the criteria of the Education Department. The boy’s family has already taken him out of the school and is looking for a new school.

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