22 August 2024: The Bombay High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of a shocking incident involving the sexual abuse of two kindergarten students at a school in Badlapur, Thane. The case, which has provoked widespread public outrage, will be heard by a Division Bench of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan, today, reported the Bar and Bench.
The incident reportedly took place on August 13, when two young girls were allegedly molested by a housekeeping staff member in the school restroom. The parents lodged a formal complaint with the police on August 16, but there was an 11-hour delay before the First Information Report (FIR) was filed.
On August 17, the police arrested Akshay Shinde, a 23-year-old school attendant, on charges of sexually assaulting the two girls. His custody has been extended by the local court until August 26 as the investigation continues.
The incident has sparked significant public outrage, leading to protests and subsequent arrests related to the unrest. The High Court’s decision to intervene reflects the severity of the situation and the urgent need for judicial oversight.
The case, registered as ‘High Court on its own motion v. State of Maharashtra’, will be closely monitored as it progresses in the coming days.
