Haryana Govt seeks report after school turns out HIV+ children

The District Education Officer has been directed by the state education department to submit a report by December 27, an official release said here tonight.

The affected children are at present studying in state-run schools.

"The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 clearly stipulates that a child suffering from disability would have the right to pursue free and compulsory education," the release said.

It also said the Haryana School Education Department Rules for recognition of schools "clearly provide that any school which has been recognised by the state government would be open for admission to all, without any discrimination based on religion, caste, race, place of birth or any other whimsical ground or extraneous reasons."

It said in case facts were found to be true, the department would take strict action, even to the extent of withdrawing recognition of the private school, it said.

Meanwhile, in Gurgaon, District Education Officer Jyoti Choudhary said the incidentally will be thoroughly investigated and those who are found guilty after the probe will "not be spared".

A representative of an NGO alleged that these eight students were expelled last year because they were HIV positive. They were later admitted to two government schools at Bhondsi village on Gurgaon-Sohna road.

The representative alleged that when school authorities came to know about the medical condition of these students, they also meted out poor treatment to them.

These children are not allowed to mix with other students and attend classrooms with others. They are forced to do cleaning, gardening and other activities which are supposed to be executed by the school staff, the NGO alleged.