HC directs CWC chairman to produce documents

The Madras High Court today directed the Tirunelveli district chairman of the Child Welfare Committee to produce the documents for issuing summons to the principal of a private school to appear for an inquiry in connection with complaints of child abuse.
Justice T Raja, who was hearing a petition filed by K Thirumalai, principal of the private school at Tenkasi in Tirunelveli district, seeking a direction to quash the summons issued on September 29, directed the CWC chairman to produce the documents which formed the basis for issuing the summons.
The government counsel said the summons had been issued properly by the CWC chairman as more than 150 children had left the school and several child abuse complaints had been received against the principal.

The petitioner submitted that the CWC chairman had asked him to come with attendance registers of classes VI to XII for 2013-14 and 2014-15 and transfer certificates issued during the period.
The chairman also said that if he failed to appear then he would be punished under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act 2000, the petitioner submitted.
The petitioner said the summons was not specific and clear about the charges against him. It did not mention the offence alleged against him for which he was summoned.