The Madras High Court has directed the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged sexual harassment of school children at a fake NCC camp in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu. The court has also ordered the Krishnagiri district legal services authority to inspect the school, interact with the students and parents, and file a report outlining their views on the situation.
The court’s orders stem from a public interest writ petition filed by advocate A.P. Suryaprakasam seeking a CBI probe into the incident. The Tamil Nadu government, in response, informed the court that a show cause notice has been issued to the private school, requesting justification for why its registration should not be revoked.
The Advocate-General, P.S. Raman, also informed the court that the father of the prime accused, Sivaraman, did not die under the influence of alcohol as previously reported. Instead, he reportedly suffered a sudden medical emergency and died while seeking medication.
According to the preliminary probe, Sivaraman is the sole accused and has a history of psychological issues, including suicidal tendencies. A multidisciplinary committee, established in compliance with Supreme Court orders, is providing counseling to the affected students. The school’s administration is currently being managed by teachers with support from the school education department. The school owner, principal, and two teachers have been arrested, and the school management has been barred from administrative roles.
The government has committed to providing compensation to the victims’ families under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The Madras High Court has ordered the state to submit a comprehensive status report by Thursday, and the hearing has been adjourned.
This incident highlights a disturbing trend of unauthorized camps posing as legitimate NCC programs. The fake camp, organized by a private school unaffiliated with NCC, underscores the need for increased scrutiny and vigilance to protect children from exploitation and abuse.
