ALAPPUZHA: The Child Welfare Committee here is yet to take any action over the complaints filed by eight students of Leo XIII Higher Secondary School alleging harassment by the headmaster in November. District child protection officer Sabu Joseph had submitted a detailed report to the CWC on December 5 stating that headmaster A.A. Xavier Kutty had violated the right to education of the students by keeping them out of the class for several days for returning late to the school after offering Friday namaz on October 3.
CWC members Raji P. Joy and Sr. Shyni George had reached the school on December 7 and recorded the statement of the headmaster, three class leaders, PTA president, physical education trainer Roshan and shopkeeper Thomas John. However, they didn’t record the statement of the students who had written the complaint.
Ms Marykutty Thomas, chairperson, CWC, said the process will be delayed as it is examination time. Ms Raji P. Joy said that the procedure was going on and steps would be taken soon. Mr John said that any step by the CWC without recording the statements of the students would be a mockery of justice. The students had alleged that the headmaster put a stick inside their trousers as they didn’t insert the shirts. He squeezed their belly and took them inside a room. When they cried for water, he asked a boy to drink the urine of another. Shopkeeper Thomas John had written down their complaint and forwarded it to the CWC.
