In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has upheld charges against a school headmaster for allegedly neglecting his duty to report a case of sexual abuse under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). The decision underscores the responsibility of educators to act as guardians of their institutions.
The case revolves around an 8th-grade student in Coimbatore who was allegedly subjected to sexual abuse at her school. While the initial investigation targeted two individuals, further inquiries revealed the headmaster’s failure to report the incident, leading to his inclusion in the charge sheet under Section 21(2) of the POCSO Act.
The headmaster argued he was unaware of the abuse during his tenure and pointed to a four-year delay between the alleged incidents in 2018 and the victim’s 2022 complaint. The Court, however, dismissed this defense, emphasizing the headmaster’s duty to report such crimes promptly, regardless of when they come to light.
“The headmaster is the guardian of the entire school. If any incident under the POCSO Act occurs, it must be immediately reported to the District Child Protection Officer or the Police. Failure to do so constitutes a violation,” the Court stated.
The judge directed the police to submit a detailed report on any actions taken against the headmaster, including recommendations for departmental or disciplinary measures, by December 12. The matter is set for further hearing on December 26.
This decision serves as a stern reminder of the critical role school authorities play in safeguarding children and their obligation to act decisively in the face of abuse allegations.
