National Commission for Women Chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam today said schools cannot absolve themselves of responsibility in cases of sexual assault on children, as she took cognisance of an incident involving a three-year-old girl in a city school.

Kumaramangalam met city Police Commissioner N S Megharik and enquired whether the administration held the schools responsible for such incidents taking place on their campuses.

"I did bring up the issue with the Commissioner of Police. The police have been swift enough to arrest the culprit, but I enquired whether the administration held schools responsible for such incidents happening on their campuses," Kumaramangalam told reporters here.

The 3-year-old girl was sexually assaulted allegedly by the watchman, who was arrested on Sunday following a complaint filed by the parents of the victim, who had identified him.
The NCW Chairperson also enquired whether the schools check the antecedents of people before appointing them.

"When the schools are recruiting people, their antecedents should be checked. Have the schools done that?," she asked.

Kumaramangalam urged parents to raise their voice against schools who absolve themselves from the responsibilities of providing security to their children.

"I heard that the schools are shirking their responsibilities ... Parents should put their foot down to hold them responsible ... If something like this happens, the school cannot absolve their responsibilities," she said.