On Friday, the Supreme Court criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for not adhering to its order regarding the counseling agency assignment for the Muslim boy and his classmates.
The students were instructed by their teacher to slap the boy for failing to complete homework, accompanied by communal slurs.
Justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal expressed dissatisfaction with the state’s “total non-compliance” and directed the principal secretary of the school education department to virtually attend the next hearing.
The court, dismayed by the lack of proper counseling, appointed Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, to suggest appropriate counseling methods for the involved children.
TISS is also tasked with recommending expert child counselors in the state. Disappointed with the state’s counseling efforts, the court mandated a report from TISS by December 11, urging the UP government to support TISS and ensure compliance. Previously, Muzaffarnagar Police had filed a case against the teacher, and the court had directed the boy’s admission to a private school after a video surfaced showing the teacher instructing students to slap him and making communal remarks.
The case was initiated through a plea by Tushar Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson, seeking a swift investigation.
