Form student advisory panels in all schools: HC to edu dept
Madurai: Madras high court recently directed the school education department to constitute student safeguarding advisory committees in schools across the state.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by advocate G Shabna of Theni district.
The petitioner sought a direction to the school education department authorities to constitute student safeguarding advisory committees in govt schools, create awareness among the students about the committee, and ensure teaching and non-teaching staff complete an annual mandatory orientation programme on the Pocso Act.
The petitioner's counsel submitted that a GO was issued by the school education department in 2021, providing guidelines to protect and safeguard students from sexual harassment.
As per the GO, student safeguarding advisory committees are to be constituted to create awareness among the students.
In a status report, the director of the school education department submitted that 11,820 govt schools reconstituted the committees in Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Kallakurichi, Krishnagiri, Madurai, Mayiladuthurai, Theni, Tirupattur, Tirupur, and Sivaganga districts. In the year 2023-24, these schools conducted a total of 42,126 committee meetings, and during 2024-25, a total of 42,194 meetings were conducted.
Additionally, annual orientation training on Pocso Act awareness was conducted in 11,820 govt schools for the year 2023-24, in which 68,245 teachers and 46,281 other staff participated. For the year 2024-25, as many as 70,105 teachers and 49,974 other staff received orientation training on Pocso Act awareness. The authorities sought time to compile data for the remaining districts and produce the same before the court.
A division bench of justice S M Subramaniam and justice A D Maria Clete observed that the student safeguarding advisory committees were constituted in several areas; however, they are yet to be constituted in some areas across the state.
Hence, the judges directed the authorities to collect the data in respect of the districts where the committees have not been constituted and initiate action to constitute the committees as per the 2021 GO, within eight weeks. The petition was disposed of and was posted for reporting compliance on August 5.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
33 minutes ago
- Hans India
Anganwadi workers protest demanding inclusion of welfare schemes
Adoni: A large number of Anganwadi workers under the aegis of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) took out a rally in Adoni on Monday, demanding the extension of government welfare schemes to them. The rally commenced at the Municipal Grounds and proceeded through Bhima Circle before culminating in a protest in front of the Mandal Revenue Officer's (MRO) office. CITU town unit president Tippanna, secretary Gopal, and mandal leaders J Ramamjaneyulu and B Veerareddy addressed the gathering, along with Anganwadi union leaders Padma, Renuka, and Somakka. Speaking at the dharna, the leaders expressed serious concern that Anganwadi workers are being portrayed as government employees in online systems. This classification, they argued, is preventing them from receiving benefits under various welfare schemes. They pointed out that not a single welfare scheme was extended to Anganwadi workers during the tenure of the previous government. 'Despite repeated representations to the authorities, our pleas were ignored,' the leaders said. During a 42-day strike in the past, the then government had verbally assured them that they would be made eligible for welfare schemes. However, no official Government Order (GO) was issued in this regard. As a result, the current government's welfare programmes, many of which are based on the income eligibility criterion of Rs 12,000 per month, are not being extended to them. The workers noted that their current monthly honorarium stands at Rs.11,500 — which makes them eligible for these schemes — yet they are still being excluded. 'We urge the government to show compassion and ensure that all applicable welfare benefits are extended to Anganwadi workers without delay,' they appealed. At the conclusion of the protest, a formal representation outlining their demands and grievances was submitted to MRO Ramesh. A large number of Anganwadi workers participated in theprotest.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Sangrur: Youth accused of raping 8-yr-old held
A youth has been arrested from a Sangrur village for allegedly raping an 8-year-old girl and offences under the POCSO Act, said inspector Karamjit Singh of Lehra police station on Monday. A case has been registered against him under Sections 64 (rape) and 65(2) (rape of a minor under 16) if the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 4 of the POCSO Act. According to police, the incident occurred on Sunday when the victim's parents were at work. The accused, living with his married sister, allegedly lured the minor to his home when her sister's family was not at home. 'A medical examination of the victim has been conducted and investigations are ongoing,' inspector Singh said. The authorities are yet to confirm the age of the accused.
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Constitute student safety panels in schools within two months, Madras HC tells TN government
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has directed the school education department to ensure formation of Student Safeguarding Advisory Committees (SSAC) in schools across the state, within two months. A bench of justices SM Subramaniam and AD Maria Clete gave the direction recently on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed by an advocate G Shabna of Theni, seeking formation of the committees. According to Shabna, the state school education department had passed a G.O. on June 17, 2021, introducing safety guidelines to protect students from sexual harassment. One of the measures mandated through the above G.O. included the formation of SSCAs. The committees should consist of the school principal, two teachers, two parents, a management representative, non-teaching staff, and optionally, an external person, as members. The principal should be a permanent member and half the committee members must be replaced annually, Shabna said.
