Dalit student's father files petition for Rs 10 L compensation

Father of a dalit student today approached Madras High Court seeking Rs 10 lakh compensation from a private school for alleged 'cruelty and mental agony' caused by discrimination and abuse of his son for not doing an assignment, who consumed poison in the classroom and later developed breathing problems.
Petitioner S Saravanan submitted his 14-year-old son Sanjay, a class ninth student at a private school at Gudalur, had been badly beaten up by the correspondent, teacher and headmaster on July 22 last year for not doing his assignment. He was overcome by shame, consumed poison and fainted in class.
School officials had informed him that his son had fainted and been rushed to the hospital. Later he came to know that Sanjay was treated badly by the three and was even stripped off his uniform, he said.

The three reportedly also asked his classmates to hit him in the head.
Police at Gudalur had stated he did not file a complaint and informed the media that his son had attempted suicide as the teachers had asked him to bring his parents to the school.
The petitioner said he given a representation to the Secretary of Adidraidar welfare department, Additional Director General of Police of Social Justice and Human Rights, only after a case was registered. But no further action was taken for the past six months.

The correspondent, teacher and headmaster meted out cruelty and caused mental agony by discriminating and abusing his son and hence he was entitled for compensation, he said.

The petitioner then sought a direction to pay him a compensation of Rs 10 lakh.
He also sought transfer of the case to the CB-CID, saying police had not taken any action on the matter.
Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana of the bench posted the case for hearing on February 22.