HC orders appointment of counsellors in all WB schools

The Calcutta High Court Friday directed authorities to appoint counsellors in about one lakh educational institutions in West Bengal to help safeguard students against sexual abuse.

Justice Nadira Patherya ordered that counsellors will have to be appointed to all educational institutions in the state in a phased manner within one year.

The judge observed that progress in implementation of a report by an amicus curiae, assisted by a court-appointed panel of educationists, on safeguarding pupils in educational institutions from sexual abuse needs to be monitored from time to time.

Justice Patherya directed that the report placed by amicus curiae Phiroze Edulji be kept on record and steps be taken to implement its suggestions.

She directed the state and the Centre to file a progress report after six months.

Upon placing the report before the court, additional advocate general Abhratosh Majumdar, who was representing the state, submitted that it would not be able to implement the recommendation regarding appointment of counsellors to every educational institution as the state has around one lakh schools.

He claimed that it will be difficult to find so many trained counsellors.

The guideline proposed by the amicus curiae said, "Every school must appoint a person, who is an expert in child psychology, psychiatry or sociology and who has been actively involved in child welfare activities for a period of at least two years, as a counsellor for children in school."