School's negligence led to boy's death: CBSE

The CBSE has found “severe irregularities and illegalities” at Ryan International School in Haryana’s Gurugram where a seven-year-old student was murdered last month.

In an affidavit to the apex court, CBSE secretary Anurag Tripathi said: “This incident has happened due to the negligence of the school authority as no provision of toilets/washrooms for drivers and conductors/cleaners who are involved in plying of buses could be found separately in the school premises, which indicate that they were using the facilities meant for the students and the staff.”

CCTVs not installed
A fact-finding enquiry conducted by the CBSE after the incident also noted that CCTV cameras were not installed at prominent places as per the guidelines. “Most of the CCTV cameras installed in the school building are not functioning,” it found.

It was also discovered that the school was not providing potable drinking water to students and staff.

The enquiry pointed out that the death of Pradyuman, a Class II student, on September 8 was not reported to the police by the school authorities. His parents had in fact lodged an FIR, leading to the arrest of a bus conductor by the Haryana Police.

The response by the CBSE was filed on an apex court notice based on a petition by Barun Chandra Thakur, the father of the child, for framing of guidelines to prevent such incidents in schools across the country.

The board said it has issued several circulars for the security audit of staff and installation of CCTV cameras, among others, from time to time to institutions affiliated to it to ensure the safety of schoolchildren.