Detaining children over fees unacceptable: CM
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government will never allow any punishment to children for issues like fees delay, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told Naheed Usmani, the principal of Rabea Girls Public School, here on Thursday.
"Do you understand what you have done. What if you are taken to court now? Both the Delhi government and the police will take action," the Chief Minister told Usmani. He also assured the parents that stringent action will be taken against the school.
A case has been registered against the school, said Delhi Police.
On Thursday morning, Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia visited the school in central Delhi's Hauz Qazi area, where 16 kindergarten girls were confined in the basement for non-payment of fees.
After alighting his car, Kejriwal asked his security and staff not to intervene while he talked to the school children.
He directly entered the school and started have friendly conversations with the children for some time. He then interacted with the parents of the children, and later with officials and teachers of the school.
In a stern message, Kejriwal told the school principal that punishing kindergarten children for alleged delay in payment of school fees is "unacceptable."
"You are a principal. The position has a reputation and high status in society. This is not the way to deal with children. The way you have treated them is not right.
"Using students to get dues cleared is wrong. Legal action will be taken against those found guilty, but I urge you not to repeat it," the Chief Minister said.
He added that an inquiry has been ordered into the matter.
The matter came to light on Wednesday after parents went to the police alleging that 16 children were confined to the school basement by the teachers between 7 am and 12 pm on Monday.
The school authorities, however, initially denied the reports and said the students were asked to sit in the activity room for few hours.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has issued notices to Delhi Police and the Delhi Education department, seeking reports of what exactly happened in the basement of the school.
