On September 30th, in a suspected case of ragging, three male students from the 10th grade at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, a centrally-funded co-educational residential school in Palghar district, were reportedly physically assaulted by their senior classmates from the 11th grade. The incident occurred at 11 pm in one of the boys’ hostels known as ‘Udaygiri House’ within the school’s 32-acre campus in Mahim. Following complaints from the parents of the students, an internal inquiry committee has been established to investigate the matter. The school, which accommodates 560 students, has both a seven-member anti-ragging committee and a gender harassment committee in place.
The alleged ragging came to light when a student of ‘Udaygiri House’ complained of severe pain in his ears last week. After an examination by the staff nurse, his parents were called to discuss about further medical treatment. That is when the student informed his parents about the ‘ragging’.
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Incidents of Ragging Surface at Palghar Hostel
Two more male students of the hostel complained of being slapped on the face many times by three seniors. The students claimed they were called to to a room. Those who came late were slapped.
The three senior boys, who have been identified, allegedly warned the juniors not to talk about the incident. The juniors said the seniors pulled them up by on matters like uniforms and shoes.
Madhuri Shankar, assistant commissioner, regional office, Pune of Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, an autonomous body under the Department of School Education & Literacy (Ministry of Human Resource Development) visited the school on Monday and spoke to the principal, teachers, non-teaching staff and students. “I will submit my report on whether ragging was going on,” Shankar said. Girl students are also being spoken to for any cases of ragging.
Principal Abraham George did not respond to calls and messages.
A meeting of parents and teachers was held on Monday.
Officers of Satpati police station visited the schoolon Saturday. “We will await the inquiry report of the school… it looks like one of the class 11 students, a resident of Shahapur, had some fight with a class 10 student,” said assistant inspector Premnath Dhole.
The students of the school are currently appearing for their semester one exams.
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