St. Columba’s School responsible for death of student, states SIT

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Delhi government to probe the death of a Class 10 student of St. Columba’s School in New Delhi’s Ashok Place has held teachers and school authorities responsible for abetment to suicide.

The team, in its report, stated that the school functionaries “failed to discharge their duties” appropriately and “accentuated a feeling of constant threat and fear” among all students. The report has recommended that the school be sealed, warning that “significant administrative mismanagement” could lead to more such incidents in the absence of proper preventive systems.

The findings come ahead of the next court hearing on March 12 and amid allegations of police inaction by the victim’s father. The 16-year-old died by suicide on November 18. A note recovered from his bag named three teachers and alleged mistreatment.

Following protests by parents and teachers, the Delhi government ordered a probe on November 20 by an SIT comprising three education board members and two school principals. The team submitted its report within three days, but it was not made public. The report, accessed by The Hindu, stressed that children’s mental health is a widespread concern.

The team relied on statements from 20 students from the victim’s class, the teachers named in the note and the FIR, the school principal, manager and the student’s parents and family friends.

‘Insensitive behaviour’

It stated that teachers displayed “insensitive, heartless, inconsiderate and thick-skinned behaviour”.

The SIT cited an incident when the student fell at an event, and teachers allegedly scoffed at him in front of his classmates, causing humiliation and loss of self-respect. The report said the school lacked any system to monitor teacher behaviour or document students’ mental health.

“Despite evidence, the police inaction is disturbing,” the victim’s father said. The police did not respond to queries till the time of going to press.

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