Haryana Juvenile Justice Board grants bail to 8-year-old accused in school assault and orders removal of videos
An eight-year-old boy accused of attacking a six-year-old girl at a Panchkula government school was granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board, which also directed that videos of the incident be taken down from social media.
The Juvenile Justice Board in Panchkula, Haryana, granted bail to an eight-year-old boy accused of assaulting a six-year-old girl at a government school on October 28. The board also ordered that videos of the incident circulating on social media be removed while investigations continue.
According to the bail application filed on November 4, the boy, a Class 3 student at Sanskriti Model Senior Secondary School, had cooperated with investigators and had no prior criminal record. His parents pledged to provide counselling, behavioural guidance and rehabilitation, and argued that continued detention would harm his education and development.
The victim, who was initially treated at Civil Hospital in Panchkula before being transferred to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, has shown significant improvement and was discharged on November 4. Her family said she is recovering but has chosen not to discuss the assault with her for now.
Police have filed a case against the school management under the Juvenile Justice Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including the principal, class in-charge and security guard. The Haryana Human Rights Commission and the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights have sought reports, and the Education Department has set up a committee to investigate. Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda said that anyone found guilty of negligence would face action, and the school principal and two teachers have been suspended.
"No one found guilty of negligence will be spared," Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda said.
Senior officials are overseeing the probe, and further measures will be taken based on the committee’s findings.