Chandigarh, Oct 3 (NationPress) The Haryana Human Rights Commission has initiated suo motu cognisance concerning a distressing incident involving a seven-year-old Class 2 student from Srijan Public School in Panipat. The commission noted that the accused committed serious violations of both human and child rights.

Reports indicate that the school Principal, Reena, in collaboration with the school bus driver, Ajay, subjected the child to barbaric corporal punishment simply for failing to complete his homework. The child was reportedly tied upside down to a window, slapped repeatedly, and a video of this brutal act was filmed and disseminated.

The boy's mother became aware of the incident only after viewing the video on social media. It has also been claimed that the Principal was captured in another video slapping students and pulling their ears, in addition to routinely compelling children to clean toilets and classrooms as punitive measures.

During questioning, the Principal acknowledged summoning the driver to discipline the child but denied permitting such cruelty. However, the evidence disclosed that rather than ensuring the child's safety, the school personnel inflicted severe physical and emotional trauma.

The driver reportedly threatened the child with severe repercussions if he spoke about the incident.

When the complainant's family confronted the driver, they faced threats from a group of men advising them against pursuing the matter. The police have lodged a case under applicable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

The full bench of the commission, which includes Chairperson Justice (retd) Lalit Batra and members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, remarked that the incident constitutes a direct violation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), particularly Article 19—protection from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury, or abuse, and Article 28(2)—discipline in schools must respect the child's dignity.

The commission further stated this incident violates statutory safeguards under Indian law. Justice Batra, leading the bench, expressed that the accused’s actions reflect grave violations of both human and child rights. Assaulting and threatening a seven-year-old is a blatant disregard for his dignity and rights, which also undermines trust in the education system.

The commission stressed that education should be founded on positive discipline, empathy, and constructive guidance.

Corporal punishment has been consistently condemned by psychologists, international conventions, and Indian law.

Schools are obligated to protect and nurture children, not to demean or humiliate them.

Puneet Arora, Protocol, Information, and Public Relations Officer of the Commission, stated on Friday that recognizing the seriousness of the allegations, Justice Batra and members hastily traveled to Panipat on the evening of September 29. They convened a meeting with Superintendent of Police Bhupender Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Yadav, and the District Education Officer among other officials.

After reviewing the evidence, the commission has instructed that detailed reports be submitted before the next hearing scheduled for November 13.