(Image source from: Midday)

Pradhuman’s Death In Gurugram School Could Have Been Averted : CBSE To SC:- Had the school authorities discharged their duties and responsibilities with care and sincerity, Pradhuman Thakur’s death in a Gurugram school could have been averted, the CBSE had told the Supreme Court, a lawyer said on Thursday.

Various alleged lapses on the part of the school management have also been listed by the board, the lawyer for Pradhuman’s father said. The seven year old boy, Pradhuman Pradhuman was found murdered on September 8 in a washroom of the Ryan International School in Bhondsi area on Sohna Road in Gurugram district. Since then, the victim’s father Barun Chandra Thakur has moved the apex court on the matter.

The CBSE affidavit in the apex court points out that the school management failed to provide basic amenities on the campus, said Barun Chandra Thakur’s counsel Sushil K. Tekriwal.

“The Ryan management never provided portable drinking water to students. There was no reverse osmosis plant. Water drawn from a bore well was supplied on the campus,” Tekriwal said quoting the affidavit.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) also said at prominent places on the campus there were no ramps, no closed-circuit television, and on two floors of the school building classrooms not in use were not put under lock and key, said Mr. Tekriwal. In the CBSE affidavit, many serious irregularities and security lapses have been pointed out. Among them are no attendant to accompany students to washrooms, no separate toilets, bathrooms, and restrooms for children and non-teaching staff, said Tekriwal.

After the crime, the police was not informed immediately and no FIR was registered by the school management, said the lawyer. A boundary wall of sufficient height and barbed wire on the school’s peripheral walls was also missing. Barun Chandra Thakur said his stand on the while issue had been vindicated by the CBSE affidavit in the apex court and expressed the hope that they will get justice.

SUPRAJA