States » NorthPosted at: Nov 14 2026 3:16PM


Panchkula school assault: Haryana rights panel seeks accountability, comprehensive safety audit

Panchkula, Nov 14 (UNI) The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has called for a time-bound, comprehensive safety audit of schools across the state and sought detailed reports from senior officials over the alleged assault of a six-year-old girl by another student at a government school in Panchkula, raising serious questions about teacher supervision, CCTV monitoring and emergency medical response.
In its order, the commission said the October 28 incident at Shaheed Major Anuj Rajput Government Model Sanskriti Senior Secondary School in Sector 20 highlighted potential systemic failures in school safety arrangements that could not be addressed merely through disciplinary action against individual employees.
The commission's full bench, comprising chairperson Justice Lalit Batra and members Kuldeep Jain and Deep Bhatia, emphasised that educational institutions and the administration were responsible for ensuring the safety of children on school premises.
The six-year-old kindergarten student was allegedly assaulted by an eight-year-old Class III student inside the school. She suffered serious injuries and was referred from Panchkula Civil Hospital to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. Her condition was subsequently reported to be stable.
The incident triggered a police investigation into alleged negligence by the school authorities. Two teachers and the school principal were suspended, while an FIR was registered against the principal, a class in-charge and a school watchman.
The Haryana government had also constituted a five-member inquiry committee and announced a statewide school safety audit on October 31.
In its latest intervention, the human rights commission questioned whether adequate teachers and other staff members were deployed when the incident occurred, whether children from different age groups were being accommodated together and how CCTV surveillance was being monitored.
It also sought to establish whether there were lapses in providing timely assistance to the injured child.
Justice Batra, accompanied by Assistant Registrar Dr Puneet Arora, had inspected the school on October 31 to examine security and student supervision arrangements.
Referring to the Haryana School Safety Regulations, 2017, and the union Education Ministry's 2021 guidelines, the commission stressed the need for effective school safety committees, adequate staffing, functional CCTV systems and clear emergency response procedures.
It also highlighted the importance of maintaining the prescribed pupil-teacher ratio, observing that staffing norms could not justify leaving children unattended or combining different classes without adequate supervision.
The commission recommended eight broad preventive measures, including comprehensive safety audits, improved CCTV monitoring, uniform school safety protocols, counselling facilities, teacher training, anti-bullying initiatives and confidential complaint mechanisms for children.
It called for regular inspections by district and subdivision-level school safety committees, with specific timelines for addressing deficiencies.
The commission has sought reports from the Principal Secretary, School Education Department; Panchkula Police Commissioner; Panchkula Deputy Commissioner; PGIMER Director; and senior state health authorities.
The education department has been asked to provide details of staffing, student strength, classroom arrangements, duty rosters, CCTV footage and child protection mechanisms.
The Police Commissioner must report on the investigation, preservation of evidence and action taken, while the Deputy Commissioner has been asked to submit details of the administrative inquiry and corrective measures.
The PGIMER Director and state health authorities have been asked to report on the girl's treatment, hospital referral and allegations of delay in medical assistance.
Assistant Registrar Dr Puneet Arora said the commission was examining the incident as a wider issue concerning children's safety, life and dignity rather than restricting its scrutiny to a single school.
The commission has also directed that the identities of both children remain confidential under applicable child protection laws.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on January 28, 2027. UNI KK NST AAB
Tags: #Panchkula school assault: Haryana rights panel seeks accountability# comprehensive safety audit
More News

UP: Yogi launches 2nd phase of 2 5 million tablet distribution campaign

15 Nov 2026 | 7:07 PM

Lucknow, Nov 15 (UNI) To digitally empower youth, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the second phase of the 2.5 million tablet distribution campaign under the Swami Vivekananda Youth Empowerment Scheme here today.

see more..

Himachal Anti-Chitta campaign: 179 preventive detention orders, properties worth Rs 37 78 cr attached

15 Nov 2026 | 7:04 PM

Shimla, Nov 15 (UNI)Himachal Pradesh's year-long Anti-Chitta campaign has combined mass public mobilisation with tougher enforcement, with 179 preventive detention orders and properties worth Rs 37.78 crore confirmed in 77 financial investigation cases, as the state government marked the first anniversary of the Anti-Chitta Jan Andolan on Sunday.

see more..

Nuh: Two alleged cow smugglers killed, one injured in gunfight with Police

15 Nov 2026 | 6:53 PM

Nuh, Nov 15 (UNI) Two alleged cow smugglers were killed and another injured in a gunfight with a police team in Haryana's Nuh district during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, police said. The encounter took place in Bima village under Firozpur Jhirka Sadar police station limits after the suspects, travelling in a pickup vehicle, allegedly opened fire at a police team during a blockade.
According to police, the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) team of Firozpur Jhirka had received information about cattle smuggling and set up a blockade to intercept the vehicle.

see more..

HP Assembly's six-day winter session to begin on November 16, security tightened

15 Nov 2026 | 6:31 PM

Ashok Raina
Dharamshala, Nov 15 ( UNI) The six-day winter session of the 14th Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly will begin at Tapovan near Dharamshala on November 16 and continue till November 21, with elaborate security arrangements put in place, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said on Sunday.

see more..

Himachal approves geriatric medicine departments at three medical colleges

15 Nov 2026 | 6:27 PM

Shimla, Nov 15 (UNI)The Himachal Pradesh government has approved the establishment of dedicated Departments of Geriatric Medicine at three government medical colleges in the state to strengthen specialised healthcare facilities for senior citizens.

see more..