In response to the direction of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the State Government has directed Rayagada District Education Officer (DEO) to take action against the erring Sunger Upper Primary School Headmaster (HM) and hostel in-charge for their lapses resulting in the death of a Class I tribal student in August last year. Human rights lawyer Subash Mohapatra of the Global Human Rights Communications has knocked the door of the commission which in turn had sought an action taken report.
In compliance to NHRC’s direction, Additional Secretary to Government Surendra Nath Mallick on April 9 directed the Rayagada DEO to take action against the erring Headmaster and hostel in-charge for their lapses immediately and submit a report to the Government.
Narasingh Majhi, a Class I student of Upper Primary School at Sunger village in Kashipur block fell from three tier bed and died due to the negligence of the authorities, the petitioner alleged.
“Unfortunately, the police did not take action against the school authorities. The kin of the deceased is yet to provide any relief. There is no improvement in the condition of the students of the school yet,” the petitioner alleged.
Earlier, though the Rayagada DEO found the Headmaster and hostel-in-charge guilty, but had failed to take legal action under 304 of IPC. The petitioner urged the commission to ensure an interim relief of Rs10 lakh to the kin of the deceased.