In a recent legal twist, the Supreme Court granted anticipatory bail to a school principal and two teachers accused of subjecting a 16-year-old student to a pregnancy test and ongoing harassment. This distressing situation allegedly led the young girl to attempt suicide twice, an incident that has sparked outrage and concern.
The girl claimed that a rumor was spread among the students, accusing her of having an affair with the school’s secretary, leading to her defamation. A division bench, comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, noted that a chargesheet had already been filed in the case. They stated that the accused, holding positions of responsibility within the school, were not considered flight risks. Consequently, the court set aside a previous order and granted bail on the condition that the accused cooperate with the trial proceedings.
The saga began in March when the police filed charges against the educators under various laws, including the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The Bombay High Court had earlier denied bail, pointing to the continuous pressure and harassment the student faced.
The troubling events reportedly started in February 2023, when the victim and her friends complained to the institute’s secretary about inadequate meals. The accused then allegedly pressured her to make allegations against the secretary, which she refused. The harassment escalated, including threats of poor grades and verbal abuse, eventually leading to rumors of an affair.
The relentless harassment reached a peak when the girl was allegedly forced to undergo pregnancy tests on two occasions. The unbearable pressure led her to consume poison, resulting in emergency medical treatment. The High Court had highlighted these allegations in its order, stating that the victim was defamed without cause, leading to her extreme actions.
In response, the accused sought relief from the Supreme Court, leading to the recent decision to grant bail. This case continues to unfold, with the legal and educational communities closely watching for further developments.
